The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has placed many foreign workers, including Filipinos, in peril as violence escalates in Lebanon. Among those affected is Cici Brinces, a Filipino domestic worker who has lived in Lebanon for 14 years. Brinces, who survived leukemia and was building a new life with her Palestinian husband, now fears for her safety as bombings in Beirut continue. “I feel that the end is near for me — worse than when I had cancer,” she said, seeking a way to return to the Philippines.
Brinces is not alone. Thousands of foreign workers from countries like Bangladesh and Kenya are caught in the conflict. Many have fled their homes, living in shelters or on the streets as bombs continue to fall. Lebanon hosts over 177,000 migrant workers, mostly employed in domestic and hospitality sectors under the kafala system, which ties their legal status to their employers.
The Philippine government has initiated a repatriation program for the 11,000 documented Filipino workers in Lebanon. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the government to ensure their safe return, but logistical challenges and delays in processing documents have slowed the process. Brinces, for example, has her documents but needs exit clearance from Lebanese authorities. By October 8, more than 1,700 applications for repatriation had been filed, and 525 Filipinos have already been sent home.
As the conflict rages on, many foreign workers are grappling with the difficult decision of whether to stay or return to their home countries, where economic opportunities may be more limited.