Philippines blocks workers heading to Qatar amid fears Gulf diplomatic crisis could lead to food shortages and riots
Manila takes precautions amid fears that problems like food shortages could affect the more than 250,000 Filipinos in Qatar should the crisis worsen
The Philippines has temporarily blocked Filipinos from travelling to Qatar for work because of the possible “ripple effects” of several Arab powers breaking off diplomatic ties with Doha and “wild rumours” of what’s happening there.
Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello said the ban would be in place until the government has completed its assessment.
“I temporarily suspend the deployment of our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in the county of Qatar. This is for us to be able to assess the situation because there are so many wild rumours going around, saying things are not going well there,” Bello said in a statement on Tuesday.
“For example, we know for a fact that Qatar does not produce its own food. If anything happens that they run out of food and food riots will take place, definitely our OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)... will be the first victims,” he added at a news conference.
“That’s why we really need to make preparatory measures to meet a possible exigency.”