US plan puts jobs of 6,000 Filipinos in Afghanistan at stake

Thursday 18th August, 2011(Source: Sun Star Daily)

JOBS of 6,000 Filipinos hang in the balance after the United States Army undertook the first steps for the repatriation of workers in its bases in Afghanistan.

A US Army memorandum dated August 13 sent to the 645th Regional Support Group in Afghanistan has instructed all US-based companies employing overseas Filipino workers to draft their demobilization plans. "We request each company with Filipino employees to provide demobilization plans no later than 9 September 2011. Failure to comply with this request may result in suspension of US Sponsorship," said the one-page letter signed by US Commanding Colonel Brian Alvin.

The demobilization plan includes the exit strategy timeline (termination date, exit interviews, and flight information); procedures to ensure all employees successfully depart Kandahar Airfield; and potential impacts to current US contracts.

Companies were also told to stop issuing office badges to OFWs starting November 30.

The new memo was issued to comply with a September 2010 order from the US Central Command that stopped the continued employment of individuals from countries that have existing deployment ban to Afghanistan.

Representations made by Philippine officials eventually gave Filipino workers in Afghanistan until December 31 to complete their tenure in the war-torn country.

OFWs employed in Afghanistan however have appealed for the extension of their job contracts until the departure of the US troops, scheduled on 2014.

The Department of Labor and Employment has banned deployment to Afghanistan after the War on Terror was launched in 2001.

Despite the ban, an estimated 6,000 Filipinos were able to secure employment in Afghanistan, with almost all working inside a total of 64 United States bases. (AMN/Sunnex)