The Philippines continues to lag behind in responding to crises affecting migrant workers because the government insists on going through long bureaucratic processes even in times of crisis.
By Alyssa Mae ClarinBulatlat.com
MANILA — More than two million overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are caught in the crossfire as tension continues in West Asia due to the joint attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The attacks already caused the death of the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many of Iran’s key leaders. US President Donald Trump still continues the attacks, saying that his administration has hostilities to continue for ‘four to five weeks, or even longer’ if needed.
On the other hand, Iran retaliated and launched its own air strikes, targeting selected US military bases in the region and in Israel. However, in the latest update, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said that neighboring countries will no longer be targeted unless an attack originates from there.
Filipino migrant groups in West Asia called for immediate and unconditional evacuation measures for OFWs. They urged the Philippine government to move beyond advisories and prepare concrete repatriation plans.
Migrant situation
In an interview with Bulatlat, Dexter Pamintudan of Migrante Israel said that the country had already mandated that only those in essential jobs are allowed to continue working. “For many of us here, we are caregivers so we are considered as essential workers.”
“But for a lot of our countrymen who work at hotels, they are forced to stop working. But if they don’t work, they don’t get paid so they do not have any salary during times like this,” he said, adding that the embassies have not yet shared any plans to support Filipinos who are forced to be jobless during this time or conflict.
“What we want is for the government to give us a comprehensive and concrete plan that would support and ensure the safety of us here in the region,” Pamintuan said.
On the average, around 8,000 Filipinos leave the country every day to become overseas workers. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that cash remittances from overseas Filipinos reached a record $35.63 billion in 2025. The amount is equivalent to 7.3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and 6.4% of the gross national income (GNI), underscoring the Philippine economy’s continued reliance on migrant labor.
Of the total, 18% or $6 billion came from West Asia, driven largely by the millions of Filipino migrants working across the region.
Though government agencies have issued alerts and encouraged Filipinos in affected areas to limit movement and coordinate with embassies, Migrante Middle East said that these are not enough.
“These OFWs left the Philippines because of landlessness, unemployment, lack of job opportunities, and poverty at home, but now find themselves trapped in a war they did not choose,” Migrante Middle East said in a statement. “We are reminded now that it is ordinary people, not the war-makers, who greatly suffer in times of conflict.”
Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera, a Filipino caregiver in Israel, was among the individuals killed on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The government confirmed her death and said that she passed away while helping her patient evacuate during the military airstrike.
On edge
David Sanchez of Bagong Alyasang Mabakayan (Bayan) Middle East said that migrants in the region remain apprehensive despite their host countries’ assurances that they have the capability to intercept missile and air strikes that may hit other areas in the Gulf region.
“Unlike migrants in Iran, Lebanon, or Jordan who are already well-equipped to handle a conflict like this, this is fairly new for migrants like us here in the UAE,” Sanchez said.
When asked whether the embassy had contacted Filipino migrant groups to assure them of support should the conflict drag on for more than a month, Sanchez said that officials told them they “still have to conduct a meeting” before providing anything more concrete.
“War in this region is not a new thing. We saw it happen last year in Lebanon and in other countries years before that. They (the government) should not be surprised anymore,” Sanchez said.
He stressed that the Philippines continues to lag behind in responding to crises affecting migrant workers because the government insists on going through long bureaucratic processes even in times of crisis.
Despite the dangers posed by the conflict, Sanchez noted that many Filipino workers may still hesitate to return home even if repatriation is offered.
“We have a member who repatriated from Lebanon last year, but he came back here and he’s now stationed in Bahrain. Sabi niya sa akin, parang walang katapusan yung bombahan sa buhay natin,” he shared.
“We come back here anyway because this is where the opportunity is to support our families,” Sanchez said.
Demands
Migrante Middle East, along with Bayan Middle East and Gabriela Middle East, called on the government to share its evacuation and repatriation plans for overseas Filipino workers in Middle Eastern countries affected by the war with Iran. Authorities were also urged to negotiate with host governments to suspend the kafala system to fast-track exit permits for evacuating and returning OFWs.
The kafala system is a legal framework used to regulate migrant workers in the Gulf region. Under this system, a worker’s legal residency and employment status are tied directly to their local employer. This means that employers control a worker’s visa, residency permit, and ability to change jobs or leave the country.
The groups said that their urgent demands were based on international humanitarian agencies’ assessments of the needs of migrants caught in armed conflicts. They called on the Philippine government to coordinate with OFW-receiving countries affected by the war for arrangements that would ensure the protection of Filipino workers.
This includes guaranteeing life-sustaining support such as food, clean water, and healthcare for wounded, displaced, and vulnerable OFWs in areas where migrants may face food shortages, contaminated water systems, and collapsed health facilities.
“Our call for a long-term solution continues,” Migrante said in a statement. “The Philippines must build its own industries to create decent and sufficient jobs for its citizens, instead of maintaining a policy that pushes Filipinos to seek work outside the country.” (AMU, DAA)
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