The Philippine government is exploring opportunities in European labor markets for repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly caregivers and hotel workers, as it continues with efforts to bring citizens home from conflict-affected areas in the Middle East.

Since October of last year, over 2,400 OFWs and 82 dependents have been repatriated amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

According to Felicitas Bay, Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare at the Department of Migrant Workers, plans are underway to connect caregivers and hotel workers — who make up a significant portion of the repatriated workforce — with employment opportunities in Europe.

“There are plans for caregivers and hotel workers that we are coordinating with our policy cluster to match them with opportunities in European markets.”

Among the countries in Europe eyeing caregivers in the coming years are the Czech Republic, Croatia and Austria.

To date, 1,100 OFWs, including 30 dependents, have been repatriated from Israel since October of last year. Of these, 949 are caregivers, and 151 are hotel workers. The latest batch, consisting of 54 caregivers, arrived on 5 December.

Israel remains under Alert Level 2, allowing voluntary departures.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon where Alert Level 3 or voluntary repatriation has been imposed, 1,298 OFWs and 52 dependents have been repatriated since last October, with more batches expected to arrive by the year’s end.