|
Friday, March 28, 2003
Jobs to increase after Iraq war: crisis chief
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
CEBUANO overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can look forward to more employment opportunities in the Middle East once the war is over and all hostilities there subside.
Middle East Crisis Manager Roy Cimatu said Iraq and other neighboring countries will need more workers in the construction and oil refinery industries, especially for the rehabilitation of buildings and other infrastructure destroyed during the war.
Cimatu, who is in Kuwait, expects the demand for workers to exceed the 50,000 to 100,000 OFWs who were hired in Kuwait and Iraq for the rehabilitation of the two countries after the 1991 Gulf War.
During his teleconference with President Arroyo at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel yesterday, Cimatu assured the President and families of OFWs who will be sent home that they will still find employment in Iraq once the war ends.
“The people from the Visayas, the Cebuanos in particular, have a lot of exportable skills in the Middle East. They want to know their prospects of landing jobs in Iraq after the war,” the President told Cimatu.
The special envoy said skilled workers will be much needed in the construction sites, while domestic helpers and hotel workers may also be hired.
OFWs, he added, may start to be deployed to Iraq a month after the war ends.
The sudden flight of workers out of Iraq and other Middle East countries after war erupted there last week has left a vacuum for workers.
“We expect some heavy construction activities after the war. In fact, a huge amount of money has already been allotted for the rehabilitation and construction of buildings in Iraq,” Cimatu told the President and the media.
Oil refineries that will be improved and rehabilitated are also potential job sites for OFWs.
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) 7 records show that OFWs get various jobs in foreign countries, which range from skilled professions such as construction workers and domestic helpers, to professionals like nurses, engineers, nurses and teachers.
Filipino nurses, caregivers, doctors, computer engineers abound in the United States, Canada, European and Middle East countries.
Aside from health workers, OFWs also work as welders, carpenters and plumbers in construction and shipyards in the Middle East.
Cimatu is also anticipating a repeat of the post-Gulf War scenario, where the demand for OFWs in the Middle East suddenly increased since the Philippines stopped sending OFWs there during the war.
“I met some OFWs who came from Visayas and Cebu and most of them are working in duty free shops and hotels. This is a very good opportunity for them, especially since they will rehabilitate hotels in Kuwait and Iraq after the war,” he said.
(March 28, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
