OFWs in Afghanistan to be repatriated soon

MANILA, Philippines –  Filipino workers in Afghanistan will soon be repatriated after the United States Central Command directed all contractors to repatriate workers from countries prohibited by their domestic laws from working in the war-torn country.

The US Central Command, who employs foreign workers, issued Memorandum Order dated Jan. 27, 2011 requiring all contractors to repatriate all third country workers whom they employed, including Filipinos, and follow the laws of Afghanistan and the third country nationals.

“This memorandum is to ensure that all contractors at Bagram Air Base follow Department of Defense guidance on employment and repatriation of third country nationals that are prohibited by their own domestic laws from working in Afghanistan,” the order states.

The US Department of Defense issued Instruction 302041 on Sept. 17, 2010 to all contractors in Afghanistan employing individuals from countries whose domestic laws prohibit their citizens from working in Afghanistan.

The instruction stated that contingency contractor personnel must comply with applicable host nation (HN) and third country national (TCN) laws.

“It is the responsibility of the prime contractor to ensure that its employees and the employees of its subcontractors are in compliance with applicable HN and TCN laws regarding employment of their citizens, including those related to entry, transit and exit procedures, and work visas/permits. Contractors bear the risk of being found in violation of contract requirements, whether or not the US government has actual knowledge of such prohibitions and violations at the time. Contractors in violation of TCN laws should immediately make plans to repatriate these individuals,” the instruction reads.

Task Force Red Bulls will conduct spot inspection of Bagram Air Force badges or IDs including passports to ensure that they are complying with the memorandum order and find out if there are prohibitions for the TCNs to work in Afghanistan.

More than 6,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Afghanistan appealed anew to the government to lift the deployment ban, saying the non-lifting only results in the entry of more undocumented workers there.

The OFWs sent a petition to President Aquino to lift the deployment ban on Filipino workers going to Afghanistan as it only encourages workers to turn to illegal recruiters to be able to go to the strife-torn country.

They said the lifting of the deployment ban will allow more OFWs to be employed amidst safe and secure conditions in US bases there.

Carlo Echano, a regional logistics manager in the military base in Afghanistan, said more than 6,000 OFWs in Afghanistan are poised to be sent back to the Philippines following the memo from US Central Command.

“The undocumented workers were hired in Dubai and brought to Afghanistan to work,” he said.

He added that undocumented Filipinos remain jobless in Afghanistan, which even resulted in the death last week of a Filipino who suffered a heart attack. The Filipino spent P200,000 to be deployed illegally to Afghanistan.

Echano appealed to the government to review and reconsider their request to lift the ban.

He said Filipinos working in Afghanistan are receiving $2,000 to $15,000 a month apart from free food and accommodation. They were also given $50,000 to $100,000 worth of insurance.

OFWs back home

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has repatriated 102 OFWs, including 29 minors, from Jeddah.

Among the OFWs repatriated from Feb. 1 to 3 were women and children who earlier camped out at the Khandara overpass.

The DFA said yesterday the repatriation of the OFWs and children followed the successful negotiation and representation by the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah with the Saudi government and the immigration authorities for the issuance of their exit visas.

The repatriated OFWs, mostly women, had experienced maltreatment from their previous employers and/or contractual substitution and nonpayment of salaries.

The OFWs stayed at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) and were provided appropriate assistance by the consulate.

The children were afforded appropriate care during their stay at the FWRC and during the trip.