Some firms in the UAE are allowed to send employees in strife-torn Gulf countries “but with very strict conditions,” Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ariel Abadilla said.
Abadilla made the clarification during a recent town hall meeting at the consulate general’s office where it was learned that a number of Filipino engineers are being sent in Basra and Kurdistan in Iraq on field assignment.
Abadilla explained that though there is a ban on the deployment of OFWs in Iraq, there are companies who have made special requests to the Philippine government to allow them to send workers in some critical areas.
“Some of these companies are allowed to send workers but with very strict conditions, which ensures their evacuation if ever needed and where should they be assigned. Those are the exceptions. But other than that, wala naman dapat magtrabaho sa Iraq as far the Philippine government is concerned, because if something happens to the OFWs there, the government will be held accountable,” said Abadilla.
The official further explained that all conditions in countries where conflicts erupt from time to time like Iraq, Libya, and Syria, are closely monitored by one section of the DFA for the government to be ready all the time when there is a need for emergency evacuation of Filipinos that would be caught in the middle of these conflicts. (Henri Abenis-Macahilo)
