HONG KONG : IRAQ : ITALY : KOREA : KUWAIT : LIBYA 
SAUDI ARABIA : SINGAPORE : TAIWAN : UNITED KINGDOM

Things you should know about working in Iraq . . .

FILIPINOS IN IRAQ WORK IN
Catering Services  ( cook, waiter, crew)
Camp Maintenance
Salons
Construction

SALARY RATE: Ranging from US$200 to US$1,000 

MARKET PROSPECTS :Technical & Management Skills (oil, power, communications   and transport, waterworks and health sectors)

MODE  OF  RECRUITMENT: Through licensed Philippine Recruitment Agencies / Contractors only.
 

PROCESSING COST FOR AGENCY HIRE

TOP EMPLOYERS IN IRAQ HIRING FILIPINOS IN 2003

• Prime Projects International Limited

• Ser-Ka Construction

• Custer Battles, Ltd

•  Morris Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd

• Alargan Trading Establishment

• 4 Catering Company

• First Kuwaiti Trading & Contracting

• Saudi Trading & Construction Company

• Eurest  Support Services Company

• Mid Jordan  Investment & Resources Co. (Mjc)

• Washington International
   

DOCUMENTS TO PREPARE:

• Resume/Bio-data

• School Credentials & Transcript of Records  (High School and/or College Diploma authenticated by DECS or CHED)

• Trade Test

• Employment Certificate/s

• Birth Certificate (authenticated  by the National Statistics Office)

• Passport

• NBI Clearance

• 2 passport size pictures

• Age requirement for construction workers  (18-45 yrs. old)

PROCEDURE

•  Verify with POEA the agency license and job order (Hotline 722-1144 / 55)

•  Apply & submit credentials to the agency

•  Undergo Medical Examination with DOH accredited clinics (3 days)

•  Attend the PDOS at an accredited PDOS  provider (1 day)

•  Attend POEA Supplemental Briefing (1hr)

•  Obtain e-Receipt & e-Card

e-RECEIPT

• Exit Permit/Clearance

• Proof of payment (POEA Processing Fee, OWWA Membership Contribution & Medicare Coverage)

• Travel Tax & Terminal Fee Exemption 

• e-CARD

• Multi-purpose card

• Proof of OWWA Membership

• ATM card for remittance purpose

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Entry Permit is obtained upon arrival on site

• Guaranteed wages higher than the minimum salary 

• Free food and accommodation

• Regular 8 working hours.  Workweek is Saturday to Thursday Friday is rest day.

• With corresponding overtime pay in excess of the regular working hours

• Free transportation to and from the worksite

• The POEA requires employers to provide worker “All Risk Global Insurance” aside from the Personal Accident Insurance coverage amounting to Php200 thousand, at no cost to the worker

COMMON PROBLEMS

• Poor living conditions

• Risk of terrorism is very high

• Remnants of the former Baath regime, transnational terrorists and criminal elements remain active

• Petty theft is common (money, jewelry, other valuable items) 

• Pick pocketing is rampant in busy places

• Inadequate basic services

• Medical care and medicines are not readily available      

• Little recourse for police assistance during emergencies

• No ATM machines

• Substitution of employment contract approved by POEA in some cases

• Lack of safety gears (e.g. bullet proof vest)

• No overtime pays of the extra hours of work rendered 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• It is illegal for employer to keep the workers passport, and money.

• Worker cannot change employer or job.  

• Respect the Iraqi tradition, customs, practices and strictly observe all Iraqi laws and regulations.

•  Prior to leaving open a savings account in the Philippines for remittance purposes.

• At the present time, there is an 11:00pm to 4:30am curfew in Baghdad.

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Location: Northwest end of the Persian Gulf

Border Countries: Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia Turkey, Kuwait and Jordan

Capital: Baghdad

Other  key cities:  Basrah, Mosul

Climate: 4 Seasons (winter, spring,  summer   & fall)

Natural Hazards:   seasonal flooding, extensive marshlands

THE  IRAQI PEOPLE

Population: 24.2 million 

Language:Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian and Armenian

Religion:Predominantly Muslim tolerant of other religions such as Catholicism and other Christian faith

Mode of Dressing:  Western Clothing

THE GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY

Transition Government (after the official turnover from the Coalition Government last June 28)

Unstable Economy

Business transactions require payment in US$

TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• Taxis, buses, trains, and motorcycles are available for inland transfers. Public Transportation is not safe.  

• Rural road conditions/maintenance is poor

• Availability of roadside assistance is poor

• Urban road conditions/maintenance is good

• Communications system is  very poor… very limited international and
  local phone services including mobile cellular service; no public telephone in the cities.  Calls maybe  made from hotels, restaurants & shops;

• Internet services are very limited.

Reminders:

Workers are not allowed to go out of campsite without permission unless under strict security control.

Traveling and driving at night is extremely dangerous and should be avoided.

Travel in convoys of at least 4 vehicles in daylight hours only.

Buses run irregularly and frequently change routes.

PORTS OF ENTRY

No direct commercial flights from the Philippines to Iraq.

Ports of entry are Turkey, Jordan or Kuwait. Airline carriers from Manila
to Port of Entry :  Royal Jordanian airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Egypt Air

Chartered flights are available from the port of entry going to  worksite

HONG KONG : IRAQ : ITALY : KOREA : KUWAIT : LIBYA 
SAUDI ARABIA : SINGAPORE : TAIWAN : UNITED KINGDOM