Labor exec: Ban to Iraq not that easy to lift
01/26/2009 | 09:06 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Not so fast.
On this note, the Labor department said Monday that lifting the deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers to Iraq will not be as easy as hinted by a Malacañang official Sunday.
"It depends sa security assessment ng DFA. Kung sa tingin nila medyo okay na at safe na magpadala tayo ng manggagagawa papasok ang DOLE para i-negotiate ang terms and conditions of employment, para sa ganoon protektado ang pagtrabaho ng manggagawa doon," Roque said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
["It still depends on the security assessment of the Department of Foreign Affairs. If they
think it is safe, that's where the labor department comes in to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment, to make sure our OFWs are protected."]
He said that once the DFA declares it is "safe and reasonable" to deploy workers and once the DOLE negotiates the terms of employment, only then will the ban be lifted.
On Sunday, incoming Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will give "serious consideration" to a proposal to lift the deployment ban on OFWs in Iraq.
But Roque also disputed claims by Remonde that there are some 10 million job opportunities in Iraq.
"Kami ang initial estimate 30,000 to 50,000 jobs. Ang presence ng Pilipino noong araw 50,000-60,000 Filipinos [Our initial estimate is only 30,000 to 50,000 jobs. During the peak of Filipino employment before, there were only 50,000 to 60,000 Filipinos employed there]," he said.
Enrique Manalo, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) undersecretary for policy, told Iraq government officials in a Friday meeting in Makati that the Philippines is ready and willing to supply workers to help rebuild and rehabilitate the war-torn country should the situation there improve.
“Our vast pool of professionals and skilled workers in the engineering, architecture, construction, energy, transportation, and communications sectors can help in rehabilitating the country’s basic facilities and services," Manalo said.
Aside from sending a Filipino team to asses the situation in Iraq, Manalo hopes that toward the end of the 6th RP-Iraq Joint Commission Meeting, the oil-rich country could also help provide a clearer picture of the actual situation in the area.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stopped sending Filipino workers to Iraq in July 2004 following the abduction of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz by bandits in Baghdad and the threat to safety of migrants.
“At the end of the consultations, it is my hope that our two sides will reach an understanding," Manalo said.
Esteban Conejos, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, earlier said that the periodic assessment of the country’s deployment bans to Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Jordan would be done in March.
Only then could the department decide on whether or not to lift the restrictions.- with reports from Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV
On this note, the Labor department said Monday that lifting the deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers to Iraq will not be as easy as hinted by a Malacañang official Sunday.
"It depends sa security assessment ng DFA. Kung sa tingin nila medyo okay na at safe na magpadala tayo ng manggagagawa papasok ang DOLE para i-negotiate ang terms and conditions of employment, para sa ganoon protektado ang pagtrabaho ng manggagawa doon," Roque said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
["It still depends on the security assessment of the Department of Foreign Affairs. If they
think it is safe, that's where the labor department comes in to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment, to make sure our OFWs are protected."]
He said that once the DFA declares it is "safe and reasonable" to deploy workers and once the DOLE negotiates the terms of employment, only then will the ban be lifted.
On Sunday, incoming Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will give "serious consideration" to a proposal to lift the deployment ban on OFWs in Iraq.
But Roque also disputed claims by Remonde that there are some 10 million job opportunities in Iraq.
"Kami ang initial estimate 30,000 to 50,000 jobs. Ang presence ng Pilipino noong araw 50,000-60,000 Filipinos [Our initial estimate is only 30,000 to 50,000 jobs. During the peak of Filipino employment before, there were only 50,000 to 60,000 Filipinos employed there]," he said.
Enrique Manalo, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) undersecretary for policy, told Iraq government officials in a Friday meeting in Makati that the Philippines is ready and willing to supply workers to help rebuild and rehabilitate the war-torn country should the situation there improve.
“Our vast pool of professionals and skilled workers in the engineering, architecture, construction, energy, transportation, and communications sectors can help in rehabilitating the country’s basic facilities and services," Manalo said.
Aside from sending a Filipino team to asses the situation in Iraq, Manalo hopes that toward the end of the 6th RP-Iraq Joint Commission Meeting, the oil-rich country could also help provide a clearer picture of the actual situation in the area.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stopped sending Filipino workers to Iraq in July 2004 following the abduction of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz by bandits in Baghdad and the threat to safety of migrants.
“At the end of the consultations, it is my hope that our two sides will reach an understanding," Manalo said.
Esteban Conejos, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, earlier said that the periodic assessment of the country’s deployment bans to Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Jordan would be done in March.
Only then could the department decide on whether or not to lift the restrictions.- with reports from Mark Joseph Ubalde, GMANews.TV
