The Department of Foreign Affairs has reminded prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) warned to be wary of online announcements about job vacancies in Iraq.
In some cases, these online announcements claim that the existing ban on deployment to Iraq has been lifted, the DFA said.
On the contrary, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board Resolution 6, Series of 2018, which suspends the deployment of newly hired workers bound for Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, remains in effect.
Furthermore, household workers who are already based in Iraq are also banned from returning to Iraq should they go on vacation to the Philippines.
The DFA further warns all Filipino travelers that Iraq imposes hefty penalties for persons without the proper visas or with expired visas. Filipinos who are temporarily vacationing in Iraq, or are residing and working before the deployment ban, are advised to take note of their visa validity dates.
Filipinos who receive or encounter job offers abroad are also reminded of the early warning signs of human trafficking, namely: applicants travel using a tourist visa or visit visa with recruiters promising to issue a worker’s visa upon arrival in Iraq; applicants do not possess their own identification documents such as IDs or passports; passports are confiscated; applicants are advised to inform authorities that they are just visiting a particular city, like Dubai, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok; applicants are advised of particular immigration lanes to choose or given nonverbal cues to lookout for during departure from Clark Airport or the Ninoy Aquino International Airport; agency has no permanent address; and agents do not reveal their full names and contact details.
The public is also advised to comply with predeparture formalities being implemented by airport immigration authorities. These formalities are intended to ensure the safety of Filipino travelers and prevent the occurrence of illegal recruitment, human smuggling and trafficking.