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Friday, October 22, 2004
OFWs banned from going to Iraq through Kuwait: Sto. Tomas
LABOR Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said Filipino workers are still banned from crossing the border from Kuwait to Iraq even if the Kuwaiti government has permitted the crossing effective October 20.
Kuwait based Labor Attaché Leopoldo de Jesus earlier said Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Bayani Mangibin relayed the lifting of the ban on crossing borders when it was first announced by Kuwait in a meeting with Pakistani and Indian officials.
"The Philippines is holding the policy banning the OFWs from crossing borders to Iraq to ensure their safety," Sto. Tomas said.
She noted that OFWs who will defy the order will be blacklisted by the government as well as their foreign employers and the local recruitment firm.
The local manpower agencies and the foreign principals, according to her, would be held liable for "misrepresentation and contract substitution" if found that there was no specified provision in the contract that orders the OFWs to cross border to Iraq.
"Their license and accreditation with the POEA will would be suspended immediately," the labor chief added.
Sto. Tomas ordered the labor officials in Kuwait to closely monitor the movement of the Filipinos in Kuwait particularly in three firms, which have large numbers of Filipino truck drivers. Most of the OFWs deployed to Iraq from Kuwait are truck drivers.
"If logistically possible, our personnel in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia should even establish presence in all points of exit to ensure that no Filipino truck drivers cross to Iraq," she said.
Last July Angelo dela Cruz, a truck driver from Saudi Arabia was abducted by the Iraq militants while crossing the border to Iraq.
After the abduction of dela Cruz, the Philippine government forged an agreement with the Kuwaiti government and Saudi Arabian officials to ban Filipinos from crossing the border to Iraq. (Marie Neri)
(October 22, 2004 issue)
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