A staff member of the Migrant Workers Office in Bahrain is seen speaking with a Filipino outside the Philippine Embassy.

The Philippines has recalled an employee of its Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Bahrain after a viral video showed the staff member allegedly speaking rudely to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) seeking assistance at the Philippine Embassy. Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, confirmed the recall order on Monday (March 9) following public backlash online. “I have issued the order recalling that MWO Bahrain employee being highly disrespectful to OFWs in a viral video,” Cacdac said in a statement posted on social media. “I assure our dear OFWs that we shall continue to serve with humility, respect, and hard work.” The incident involved a staff member from the Migrant Workers Office stationed in Bahrain who was seen in a widely shared video speaking to Filipinos gathered outside the Philippine Embassy in Bahrain in Manama. In the clip circulating online over the weekend, several OFWs were waiting outside the embassy seeking financial assistance amid tensions in the Middle East. The employee was heard telling them their requests would not be accommodated, allegedly saying the government had no funds left. In Filipino, the staff member was also heard telling the crowd to complain wherever they wished. Some OFWs in the video responded that they had not been informed that financial aid had been suspended. The embassy had earlier announced on Thursday (March 6) that it would temporarily suspend financial assistance distribution to migrant workers. According to the embassy, the decision was made to prevent large gatherings in compliance with security advisories issued by the Bahrain government. The advisory also required that walk-in visitors without confirmed appointments would not be accommodated. Officials said the measure was linked to heightened regional tensions following the US–Israel strikes on Iran, which began on February 28 and raised security concerns across parts of the Middle East.

Possible disciplinary action

Cacdac did not identify the employee involved or specify what disciplinary action may follow the recall. However, Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Philippine Senate committee on migrant workers, told reporters that the department chief had indicated the staff member could face dismissal. The issue also surfaced during a Senate hearing on migrant workers on March 5, where senators raised concerns about complaints from Filipinos abroad about government hotlines being difficult to reach. Cacdac said he would review the matter but noted that he had personally seen embassy personnel during an online meeting with labor officials. A similar incident involving Philippine government personnel overseas occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, a welfare officer at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office Dubai was suspended for allegedly insulting an OFW during a dispute over the distribution of food assistance to Filipinos affected by lockdowns. Authorities later launched an investigation into the case. Philippine officials said they remain committed to assisting overseas workers and addressing complaints from Filipinos abroad.

Repatriation requests

The recall comes as the Philippines monitors requests from overseas workers seeking to return home. Data shared earlier this month showed that Bahrain had the highest number of Filipinos requesting repatriation, with 278 cases recorded. This was followed by Abu Dhabi with 246 and Dubai with 231. Around 2.5 million Filipinos are estimated to be working across the Middle East. On Monday (March 8), the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in coordination with the MWO in Abu Dhabi and Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), said that it facilitated the repatriation of Filipino nationals, including 33 overseas OFWs, on March 8 via Emirates flight EK 334. “The group included wards under the care of the Embassy, Israel-bound OFWs affected by travel disruptions, stranded medically ill tourists, as well as OFWs who were ill or recovering from injuries. The Philippine Country Team in the UAE worked closely to ensure the safe and orderly processing and departure of the repatriates,” according to the Philippine Embassy, adding that the repatriation effort was led by Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Alfonso Ver and Labor Attache Ma Teresa Olgado. The mission said that embassy and MWO-Abu Dhabi personnel “provided assistance and coordinated the necessary arrangements for the affected Filipinos.” CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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