MANILA - (UPDATE) The Philippine government on Thursday partially lifted deployment restrictions for the Federated States of Micronesia which it imposed earlier this month, following the appeal of some overseas Filipino workers.

Bernard Olalia of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said "Balik Manggagawa" or returning workers are exempted from the deployment ban.

For newly-hired Filipino migrant workers, the ban however remains in effect.

Manila had banned the deployment of workers to the small Pacific Island nation after some Filipinos allegedly failed to receive their wages from a state hospital there.

• Nasa 300 OFW, apektado ng total deployment ban sa Micronesia

Some 70 OFWs, in a letter to the government, refuted the allegation as they asked the government to lift the deployment ban.

• Ilang OFW, dumadaing sa deployment ban sa Micronesia

- With a report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News ​