POEA warns recruiters still defying Iraq ban

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) warned local recruiters anew against defying the ban against deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq.

POEA chief Rosalinda Baldoz said the government is continuously enforcing its anti-illegal recruitment campaign and would impose appropriate sanctions against local recruiters and even foreign employers who attempt to smuggle Filipino workers to Iraq.

Baldoz issued the statement after 88 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remained under the custody of Dubai police authorities. A chartered flight carrying the OFWs failed to land at the Baghdad International Airport and ordered back to Dubai last week..

Philippine Embassy and labor officials in Dubai are now working on the immediate repatriation of the 88 Filipino workers.

"We will investigate the case regarding the 88 Filipino workers and take appropriate action as soon as we have received the official report from the Philippine Embassy and labor officials in Dubai," Baldoz said.