Filipino Vice President Noli De Castro has ordered that Kuwaiti recruiting agencies be investigated for accusations of kidnapping.  A large recruiting agency, First Kuwaiti General Trading and Contracting Co., has been investigated because of 11 allegedly trafficked Filipino immigrant workers.  Earlier reports had stated that the number of Filipinos was closer to 51.  The migrants were working at the US embassy in Iraq.  The Kuwaiti recruiting firm has denied all allegations.

        In 2004, the Filipino government outlawed Filipinos from working in Iraq.  However, over 7,000 Filipinos remain in Iraq.  Thus, Filipinos working on the US Embassy automatically raised questions leading to the investigation.  Philippine Presidential Special Envoy to the Middle East General Roy Cimatu was sent to Kuwait to investigate the plight of the Filipino construction workers.

        Many Filipinos have been lured into Iraq through false promises of working in lucrative jobs in the Middle East.  When the migrants arrive in country, they are faced with the reality that the jobs do not exist.  Instead, journalist David Phinney reported that the workers are given three options.  The options are either pay a $1,000 penalty and work for free in Kuwait for three months, be arrested and jailed in Kuwait, or work in Iraq for lower salaries.  While contemplating their decision, 800 Filipinos were housed in a deteriorating building without mattresses or blankets.  Thus, many of the poor Filipino workers chose to violate the law and work in Iraq. 

        The Filipinos’ work conditions in Iraq are inhumane.  Once in Iraq, some of the Filipinos work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for limited pay.  Also, compensation and access to identification documents are both sometimes withheld from the workers to ensure that the workers stay at the job site.  One Filipino reported to David Phinney that he slept on truck beds and only ate the leftovers from the soldiers’ meals.  However, because of investigations some of the conditions in Iraq have improved vastly for the workers.  For example, at the US Embassy the migrant workers have finally been provided with adequate food, medical attention and sleeping arrangements. 
   

Gulf News. Kuwaiti firm denies kidnapping of Filipino workers for Iraq. 12 August 2007.

International Herald Tribune. Kuwaiti company denies kidnapping Filipinos to work in Iraq.  12 August 2007.

Arab Times.  Cimatu in Kuwait to probe kidnapping of 51 Filipinos; Meeting planned with US Embassy officials. Viewed 12 August 2007.

Arabian Business. Probe into alleged kidnapping of Filipinos. 5 August 2007.

Iraq Slogger.  Filipino Worker Recounts Escape From Iraq.  6 June 2007.

Manila Standard Today. Noli targets two firms for defying ban on deployment to Iraq.  5 August 2007.