OFWs in Afghanistan urge government to lift deployment ban

MANILA, Philippines - A group of Filipino workers in Afghanistan yesterday urged Vice President Jejomar Binay to help convince the government to lift the ban on deployment of workers to the war-torn country.

The workers led by Catherine Sobrevega, country manager of MEDA Afghanistan Filipinos in Afghanistan (FIA), said they are worried over the continued failure of the government to lift the ban on deployment in Afghanistan.

Sobrevega said more than 5,000 professionals and skilled Filipinos who are presently working in Afghanistan are bound to lose their jobs by Dec. 31 this year.

She said a mission sent by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to Kabul early this year had assessed the working conditions of Filipino workers, particularly in the military bases in Kandahar.

“They have also talked with our employers and were impressed with the security protocols. They also met and visited Filipinos working with USAID, non-government organizations and other humanitarian agencies and just the same, they were impressed with each of the agencies’ security protocols,” Sobrevega said.

Sobrevega said after the DFA mission’s visit and its discussion with the security committee, they agreed to grant conditional exemptions to Filipino workers onsite until Dec. 31 this year.

“We are so happy with the decision hoping that they will finally lift the ban in Afghanistan before Dec. 31. However, we have not heard from them again. We are worried especially since it is already the middle of the year and some of our employers are no longer extending our contract because of the deadline set by our government,” she said. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin