Foreign Workers Die Jumping From Buildings in Lebanon

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deaths this past week of two Filipinas who were killed after jumping from buildings to flee their employers. It was believed that Mary Jane Pangilinan, who died July 27, and Michelle Tomogan, who died July 29, were prevented by their employers in joining the evacuation of overseas Filipino workers from the war-torn country of Lebanon. Pangilinan and Tomogan were the first reported fatalities of the efforts to get foreign workers out of Lebanon as the fighting that broke out between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in July 12.

There have been consistent reports that Lebanese employers were preventing their Filipina domestic helpers to repatriate back to Manila following the outbreak of hostilities with Israel. Some estimates put the Filipino working population in Lebanon at 31,000 Filipinos. Filipino foreign workers can also be found directly to the south of Lebanon, in Israel. The social workers frequently come to Israel, Lebanon and elsewhere not only to work in normal shops, but also to take care of senior citizens.

In other Philippines-related news in Lebanon, it has been reported that three Filipinas were injured as they tried to flee Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions in the country`s south, and in the capital Beirut. As for the two who died jumping a building in an escape attempt, Philippines Labor Undersecretary for International Labor Relations Manuel Imson said, "Initial verbal reports indicate the two were cleaning windows when it happened. We`re still waiting for the official police reports to tell us if they fell, jumped, or were pushed. From initial reports, they deaths happened in the normal course of work."

                                 

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