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6,000 OFWs stranded in Iraq despite ban

BAGUIO CITY (Mar. 31) — Migrante-Cordillera Spokesperson Flora Belinan disclosed that despite the ban, over 6,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are in Iraq. She reiterated that the absence of decent paying jobs and the chronic economic crisis in the country leaves many of our compatriots to risk working even in war torn countries.

Belinan added that higher pay is also another come on for OFWs to work in Iraq. Relatively, OFWs in Iraq earn more than other Middle East countries today. She mentioned that in Saudi Arabia for instance, there are OFWs earning P5,000 a month while in Iraq they can earn P27,000 a month on the average.

Further, Belinan said that putting a ban to Iraq can help in some ways to control the number of Filipinos going to the said country but it is not the solution to the problem.

“Disente at nakakabuhay na trabaho ang sagot sa di mapigil na pangingibangbayan ng ating mga kababayan,” (Providing enough decent paying job here in the country is the solution to the unstoppable migration of many compatriots) she declared.

Moreover, Belinan stressed that since the government cannot provide decent jobs in the country they should at least ensure the safety and protection of compatriots especially in the war torn countries. # Kim Quitasol for NORDIS

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