OVERSEAS Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Kingdom of Bahrain called on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to include their host government in the "green list," said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo).
In a virtual press briefing, Labor Attaché to Bahrain Vicente Cabe said many OFWs have been asking them to lobby to the Philippine government to have Bahrain included in the "green list" classification.
"Whenever our kababayans visit us here, they frequently note that cases are already low and are asking us why Bahrain is not yet in the 'green list'," said Cabe.
"They are asking because they are hoping to come home. They think it would be five days wasted in quarantine. It would have meant more time with their families. That is their appeal to us," he added.
The labor official said they agree with the OFWs that the Covid-19 cases continue to decline in Bahrain.
"We expect and hope that come the next period, the IATF will include Bahrain in the green list so that our OFWs will have an easier time when they come home," said Cabe.
To note, Bahrain is currently classified as under the "yellow list."
Cabe said there are an estimated 49,000 OFWs currently based in Bahrain.
For his part, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Spokesman Rolly Francia said Secretary Silvestre Bello III has already expressed his support to the said call.
"We trust that the secretary will fulfill his promise, that he will lobby with the IATF-EID to deescalate the classification of Bahrain into green," said Francia.
To note, countries that are green-listed may have their fully vaccinated travelers, including OFWs, enter the Philippines without the need to undergo facility-based quarantine.
For November 1 until November 15, a total of 46 states and territories have been under the green list. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)