US orders pullout of OFWs in Iraq by August 9

MANILA, Philippines—At least 6,000 overseas Filipino workers hired by US contractors to work in military camps in war-torn Iraq are expected home by August 9 this year after the United States military ordered their return in time for its own pullout.

In a memorandum dated July 20, US Air Force Colonel Richard Nolan of Central Command’s Contracting Command said contractors who hired people from countries which prohibit work and travel to Iraq must return them home. He noted that eight such people were left behind by their employers in Iraq.

“This letter serves notice that all contractors operating in Iraq have 20 days from the date of this letter to ensure their employees comply with US and international law and understand their redeployment responsibilities under the terms of their contract,” said Nolan, senior contracting officer in Iraq.

He said all the camps in Iraq where the foreign workers are housed will be inspected after the 20-day period expires to ensure compliance. Violating contractors may be blacklisted from future US government contracts.

Aside from the Philippines, Nepal was mentioned by Nolan as among those that ban travel and work to Iraq.

In a related development, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos welcomed the US military order which matches the July 2004 Philippine travel ban to Iraq. The Philippines imposed the ban after Iraqi militants kidnapped OFWs Angelo Dela Cruz and Robert Tarongoy, causing political backlash in the Philippines.

“We’ve always asked [US and other countries] to respect our ban. We have always asked them to please help us because delikado nga sa Iraq (it’s dangerous in Iraq). They’ve never been heeded until now, when they’re winding down their operations,” he said.

Aside from the US, jump-off points to Iraq like Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait have been asked to help the Philippine government enforce the ban, Conejos said.

The DFA official also ruled out the possibility of lifting the ban because “it’s still dangerous there.”

Besides, he said, the thrust of the new government is to create jobs here.

Carmelita Dimzon, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, said her agency offers returning OFWs a start-up capital loan of P10,000.

She said the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration may have to put these OFWs from Iraq on a priority list for redeployment abroad.

“They have upgraded their skills in Iraq, and there are still unfilled job orders in Qatar, for instance,” Dimzon said.

“This is an opportunity for POEA to create of pool of returning workers from Iraq for either redeployment abroad or work or business enterprise here,” she added. - INQUIRER.net, July 27, 2010