The Philippines government's ban on workers going to Iraq is being circumvented by many Filipino workers who are being recruited from here.
A number of Filipinos come to Dubai as tourists and end up in Iraq in risky reconstruction jobs.
Filipinos fill out immigration forms as they queue up for their flight to the Middle East at Manila International Airport. Picture: AP |
Some workers from Dubai are even taken by ferry to Basra, according to a source.
The ban was partially lifted last week but reimposed following the kidnapping of Angelo de la Cruz, a Filipino driver, who was released yesterday.
When news about the kidnapping came out on Friday, more than 140 Iraq-bound Filipino workers in Manila were barred from boarding their plane bound for Dubai, from where they were to fly to Baghdad on a chartered flight.
A prayer vigil was held at the Philippine consulate in Dubai yesterday for de la Cruz.
Early last month, Raul Carlos Flores, a 46-year-old engineer from La Union who was employed by General Electric, became the fourth Filipino civilian to lose his life in Iraq.
Earlier, three Filipino soldiers were wounded when attackers fired on their convoy. But the hiring of civilian workers continues.
One Dubai-based company playing a large part in the redevelopment of Iraq is hiring 25,000 people, including construction workers, secretaries, cooks, engineers and designers.
"Iraq is a chaotic place right now," said a Filipino working for a British company in Basra, which is recruiting workers in Dubai.
"There are daily killings and it may take time to get rid of the insurgents. But it's no different from the Philippines."
"They are not really registered as Filipino workers but as tourists. Those who go there are fully aware of the risks involved, but they go there anyway," he added.
"Companies operating in Iraq really need workers, both local and foreign. No doubt it's a risky place but the pay is good. Many Filipinos would rather take the risk than live with joblessness at home," said the recruiter.
While the companies have hired Iraqis (a driver can earn $300 a month), they also need people for administrative tasks.
"We hope things will improve and expatriate workers will feel safe to work in Iraq."
A Deira-based subcontractor of Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), a division of Halliburton Co., recently asked the Philippines roving ambassador to the Middle East, Roy Cimatu, to consider lifting the temporary recruitment ban.
"OFWs are preferred workers in Iraq," said Isaias Begornia, spokesman for the Philippine government's Iraq Team.
The Deira-based company employs some 4,000 OFWs, who are deployed in various military camps, bases and other facilities run by the coalition.
The only deployments which the government can halt are those coming from the Philippines, which have already reached more than 2,000, all under pending status.
High salaries lure unemployed
* OFWs in other Middle East countries or those coming direct from the Philippines are lured to Iraq by the higher salaries and benefits.
* In some Middle East countries, employees get an average wage of $250 a month but in Iraq, they could receive up to $750 a month and other benefits.
* In the event of a worker's death, the family of an OFW will receive $200,000.
* OFWs in Iraq and those on their way to the country have been urged to register at the embassy in Baghdad so their whereabouts are known.
