Filipino

Marianas

Ban on

workers

The deployment of Filippino workers to the Northern Marianas has been sus pended.

The Philippine Labour Department said the ban would cover domestic helpers,

farmers, waitresses and other workers in what it called vulnerable areas.

It said it was taking the step because of numerous and persistent cases of abuse of Filippino workers in the Northern Marianas. The department said the ban would not cover skilled labour.

Officials said more than 7000 Filipino workers were in the Northern Marianas last year but they could not say how many were there at present or how many would be covered by the ban.

The move comes amid renewed concern in the Philippines about overseas work ers following the execution in Singapore last month of Flor Contemplacion, who was convicted for the 1991 murder of a fellow maid and a Singapore child.