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DOLE still waiting for DFA assessment on Iraq ban


MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday said it was still waiting for the assessment of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on whether the deployment ban on Iraq can be lifted or not. Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said reports from the Middle East Preparedness Team indicated that the incidence of violence in Iraq has already dwindled but it was relying on the DFA’s recommendation. “The DOLE position is subject to the security assessment by the DFA on the peace and order condition in Iraq," Roque told GMANews.TV through a text message. “While there maybe emerging employment opportunities there, the welfare of our nationals remains primal," he said. Recruitment agencies earlier called for a relaxation of the deployment ban to legally open up the job market in the war-torn country once more. The Philippine government stopped sending workers to Iraq after Filipino accountant Robert Tarongoy was abducted in 2004. The government said the abduction confirmed its apprehension of sending workers to the conflict-stricken country since the hostage-taking of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz that same year. Word has it that the government spent millions of dollars for the freedom of the two hostages. Roque admitted that despite the deployment ban, Filipino workers continued to enter Iraq illegally to take advantage of the high pay offered by mostly American companies with contracts in the Mideastern country. He said reports reaching his office say the number of OFWs who are currently in Iraq has jumped to 15,000. Labor officials have also maintained the deployment bans on Lebanon and Jordan despite similar calls for these to be lifted. The Lebanon ban was kept due to ongoing peace and order problems while that on Jordan was kept because employers refused to comply with new conditions set for hiring OFWs. Administrator Jennifer Manalili of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) has said the DFA recommended that these bans be maintained due to the “still volatile situation" in the two countries. - GMANews.TV
Tags: dole, iraqban, poea, ofws, dfa
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