A Lebanese-Filipino community on Tuesday welcomed a decision by the Philippine government to lift in February 2010 a four-year deployment restriction of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Lebanon.

The Filipino-Lebanese Friendship Community headed by Abdul Kader Al Jadid said the decision of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) to resume deployment of workers is very timely as Lebanon “is experiencing a period of economic boom.’’

“Lebanese businessmen are looking forward to helping unemployed Filipinos to working in Lebanon,’’ Jadid said in a statement received at the DoLE office.

“Lebanon is anticipating a tremendous growth in tourism with the rise of hotels and restaurants everywhere,’’ he added.

Jadid claimed that he has been requesting the DoLE Secretary Marianito Roque early this year to allow Lebanese recruitment companies to bring in to Lebanon skilled categories other than household service workers since thousands of other positions are needed to fill up the present demand for hotel, service staff and construction jobs.

Among these firms needing the services are the InterContinentalHotels Group (IHG), Four Season, Le Gray and other food businesses.

He disclosed that workers like waiters/waitresses, chambermaids, receptionists, salesladies, skilled construction workers like carpenters, electricians, technicians, scaffolding, welders, plumbers, fabricators and other skilled laborers are those needed in Lebanon in preparation for the three million tourists expected in 2010.

“Lebanon is considered to be a prime destination for European tourists with its winter ski resorts and summer tourist spots,’’ he said.

Aside from hotels and restaurants, local recruitment officials also disclosed there are international call centers being set-up in Lebanon like Call Me, ICC, Tele Performance, Professional Call Center, and Media Tech.

“The Ministry of Telecommunications has signed up for 10-call center contacts and expects to sign 10 more in the near future,’’ said recruitment expert Emmanuel Geslani.