PHL labor execs monitor Thai situation for possible deployment ban



Thai soldiers deployed on Bangkok streets
Thai soldiers deployed on Bangkok streets. Thai soldiers take up position on a main road in Bangkok on Tuesday, May 20, following the Thai army's declared of martial law to restore order after six months of anti-government protests which have left the country without a proper functioning government. The move did not constitute a coup, a military officials said.Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom
Philippine labor officials are keeping tabs on the situation in Thailand so they can order a possible deployment ban if the need arises.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Tuesday she has ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs in assessing the situation.

Thailand’s military declared a nationwide martial law on Tuesday to restore order in the troubled Southeast Asian nation, which is functioning without a proper government since its Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine of her ministers were dismissed by the court this May for abuse of power.

Thailand has been besieged by violent pro-Thaksin and anti-government protesters since November last year and dozens have been killed.

“I have instructed the POEA to immediately convene the Governing Board to decide on a deployment ban in response to the events in Thailand,” said Baldoz, who as Labor secretary chairs the POEA Governing Board, in a statement.

For the meantime, Baldoz advised Filipinos in Thailand “to be vigilant, avoid public places, restrict non-essential movements, and stay in their houses as much as possible.”

Baldoz also said she ordered POEA officer-in-charge Ameurfina Reyes to monitor the situation in Thailand, after the Thai Army declared Martial Law.

She noted the DFA has issued Alert Level 2 (Restriction Phase) for Thailand, requiring Filipinos staying in Thailand to restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for evacuation if necessary.

The DOLE said that while Thailand is not a major OFW destination, data from the POEA indicates the Philippines deployed 8,659 overseas Filipino workers to Thailand in 2013. Most of them are teachers, engineers, production and related workers, and composers, musicians, and singers.

On the other hand, the DOLE said the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ estimate there were 16,303 Filipinos in Thailand as of December 2012.

Last January, the POEA Governing Board banned the deployment of newly-hired overseas Filipino workers bound for four specific areas in Thailand. It lifted the ban on March 25.

At that time, authorities there declared a 60-day state of emergency in Bangkok and other surrounding areas due to protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.—Joel Locsin/KBK/NB, GMA News

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