MERGED: Lifting of Travel Ban to Iraq

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check this news out, it seems that the government is finally opening its eyes to what we Filipinos needs.

Gov’t awaits report on worker deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos



MANILA, Philippines—The government is not ruling out the possibility of lifting the ban on the deployment workers to Iraq and Afghanistan at this time, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

The DFA, which heads an inter-agency committee assessing the security situation of Filipino migrant workers in the two war-torn countries, said it was "keeping an open mind" on the issue.

"We're open-minded, but we need to wait for the recommendation of the committee," DFA spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya has told the Inquirer.

According to Malaya, "the Philippine government values opportunities for Filipino labor in overseas markets" like Iraq and Afghanistan.

He said, however, that under Republic Act No. 8042, also known as the "Migrant Workers Act," the government "has to ensure the safety, security and welfare of overseas Filipino workers wherever they may be deployed."

"These factors will be among those that will be considered when the inter-agency committee evaluates developments in countries like Iraq," said Malaya.

RA 8042 mandates that the government adhere to strict guidelines in allowing the deployment of OFWs. It also imposes heavy penalties on government officials who allow the deployment of migrant workers without the guarantees required by law.

The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad favors the lifting of the ban, according to some DFA insiders.

Asked for comment, Malaya said he has "seen a report from them lately." However, he did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, presidential adviser on OFW concerns, said Binay had nothing against the deployment of OFWs to Iraq and Afghanistan "once the safety and welfare of Filipino migrant workers is assured."

"The safety and welfare of OFWs take precedence, particularly in high-risk countries like Iraq and Afghanistan," said Joey Salgado, Binay's spokesman and media officer.

Last week, Iraq's Ambassador to the Philippines Wadee Al-Batti called on the Philippines to lift its ban on worker deployment and travel to Iraq, saying OFWs can gain by taking part in his country's reconstruction.

Al-Batti pointed out that peace and order has greatly improved in Iraq since Manila imposed the ban in 2004.

The envoy said Iraq, or any country for that matter, could not guarantee against terrorist attacks.

According to the Iraqi diplomat, Iraq needs at least three million new houses, thousands of schools and more than 100 hospitals.

Some 4,000 OFWs work in Iraq despite the labor ban.

They were supposed to be repatriated to Manila last December, but their American and other foreign employers allowed them to stay and complete their work contracts as recommended by the DFA-led panel.

The committee also includes the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

OFWs in both Iraq and Afghanistan, many of whom make over P100,000 a month doing various maintenance and logistics work in US military facilities, had earlier appealed to Malacañang to lift the labor deployment ban.

They pointed out that Nepal had already lifted its own ban.

But the DFA-led committee recommended against it due to the unstable security situation in those countries.

Prior to his trip to Egypt, DFA special envoy Roy Cimatu was directed by the foreign office to fly to Kabul to "look into the security condition of Filipino workers there."

[marielee]

i cant find any reason to disregard the lifting of travel ban issue. kinahanglan najud nat ang mga trabaho sa Iraq karon ug someone jusst said na safe naman daw sa iraq

[storya_ta_bai2]

bisag unsaon pa siguro ug tan aw, dunay daghan nga nanginahanglan ug trabaho. mao bitaw nang tua sa gawas ang uban kay way nakit an diri sa atoa, kung duna man gani di sad kaigo para ibuhi ug pamilya. tan awa ra gud ni ninyo nga video. maka ingon na gyud ka nga dala sa kalisud na gyud ni.

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/10418/wi...-helped-family

[adhesive]

if iraq is on a rebuilding stage right now, then iraq needs the philippines...

[high_heels]

if iraq is on a rebuilding stage right now, then iraq needs the philippines...

korek kaayo ka sis, ambot lang ngano ga langay langay atong gobyerno nga daghan kaayo tang mga trabahante ga lisud ron ug nangita ug trabaho. abroad. laliman ka nga atleast 5 years na gud na ang travel ban. syaro naman sad!!!!

[storya_ta_bai2]

its just not the demand that requires the travel ban to be lifted, this demands ma POLITICAL WILL from our government.

[storya_ta_bai2]

From what’s happening, I think Libya is the new Iraq and Kadafi is the new Saddam. Hehehe… Travel ban should be implemented there and they should lift the one in Iraq.

[storya_ta_bai2]

duna na gyud diay kalambuan mga istoryans. padayon ta sa pag ampo nga ma tangtang na gyud ning travel ban.

Senator proposes review of Iraq deployment ban | Sun.Star

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dara mga bro ang sis:

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A RESOLUTION has been filed at the Senate that will ask the government to review a deployment ban on Filipino workers to Iraq.

Under the measure filed by Senator Loren Legarda, the labor and foreign relations departments and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration will be tasked to look into appeals from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to withdraw the ban.

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Around 8,000 Filipinos are working in Iraq, in direct violation of a travel ban imposed by the Philippines in 2004 after a Filipino was kidnapped and later threatened with beheading.

The Philippines pulled out its peacekeeping contingent in exchange for the release of truck driver Angelo Dela Cruz.

The absence of legal travel papers makes Filipino workers more vulnerable. Without documentation, the workers are not protected under Philippine or Iraqi laws, Legarda said.

Filipino workers in Iraq are also in danger of losing their jobs after the US government ordered its contractors in 2010 to send home employees from countries with a travel ban to Iraq.

Legarda, Senate foreign relations committee chair, said Iraq has already requested the government to withdraw the ban because it needs workers for reconstruction projects.

She said Iraq needs workers to build 3 million houses, thousands of schools, and more than 100 hospitals. The job opportunities might entice even more Filipinos to enter Iraq illegally, she said.

Proper government documentation of Filipinos in Iraq will also help the government keep track of them in light of unrest spreading in the region.[/B]

Senator proposes review of Iraq deployment ban | Sun.Star