BAN
[PHOTO - Catherine Sobrevega, Afghanistan country manager
for Mennonite Economic Development Associates(MEDA)]
MANILA, JUNE 21, 2011 (STAR) 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
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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