ANGELES CITY – A country representative of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) contractor has announced that thousands of Filipino workers are urgently needed to support NATO/United States Department of Defense (US-DOD) military instal-lations in Afghanistan.
(Ret.) Lt. Col. Edgar LaBenne, country representative of a NATO contractor who is now in this city, said that an initial 1,099 workers are immediately needed before the end of February 2009.
“We are calling the attention of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and other concerned government agencies to expedite the Afghanistan country assessment for probable issuance of an Area Specific Exemption and not a lifting of the country wide ban,” he said in a statement.
He stressed that the exemption will only be for specific areas inside NATO military installations where OFWs will work and live exclusively “under the same level of security and protection as the NATO troops assigned to those bases.”
LaBenne added that these government agencies have to take immediate action because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be leaving the country for Davos, Switzerland on Friday (January 30).
“Considering the global economic crisis, countries declaring bankruptcies, massive lay-offs and lack of new jobs, here is a golden opportunity that we should grab,” he said.
However, LaBenne noted that for several years, the Philippine government has been imposing a deployment ban for Filipino workers going to Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Lebanon based on security concerns. “This proposal addresses fundamental security concerns to make sure Filipino OFWs are safe and protected.”
He disclosed that 1,000 vacancies are up for grab until the end of February 2009. An estimated 1,000 more will be offered by mid-year.
LaBenne described the salary package offered by the NATO contractor as “amazing” and “one of the best ever for Filipino workers.”
The compensation package include: salaries ranging from (in US dollars) $385 to $800 per month; $1,200 annual bonus; free round trip airfare every six-months with 21 days paid leave for workers choosing to work 7 days a week; free round trip airfare every year with 40 days paid leave for workers choosing to work 6 days a week; free $30 phone card per month; no Afghanistan or US taxes are deducted from the salary and any other emoluments; food, lodging, uniforms, and laundry are all provided free of charge; a full-time doctor is available for the workers and medicine is free.
LaBenne said the NATO contractor will also provide accident, disability and death benefits. “Death benefits are three times the annual salary of the worker which would equal to a minimum of P650,000.
He also disclosed that the contractor urgently needs cooks, waiters, cashiers, utility workers, maintenance personnel, and other administrative personnel in Afghanistan.
“No placement or agency fee; no salary deductions; no other charges; medical examination shall be provided without charge to selected applicants through a reputable medical institutions. Successful applicants can be deployed in two weeks after passing the medical examination,” he said.
(Ret.) Lt. Col. Edgar LaBenne, country representative of a NATO contractor who is now in this city, said that an initial 1,099 workers are immediately needed before the end of February 2009.
“We are calling the attention of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and other concerned government agencies to expedite the Afghanistan country assessment for probable issuance of an Area Specific Exemption and not a lifting of the country wide ban,” he said in a statement.
He stressed that the exemption will only be for specific areas inside NATO military installations where OFWs will work and live exclusively “under the same level of security and protection as the NATO troops assigned to those bases.”
LaBenne added that these government agencies have to take immediate action because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be leaving the country for Davos, Switzerland on Friday (January 30).
“Considering the global economic crisis, countries declaring bankruptcies, massive lay-offs and lack of new jobs, here is a golden opportunity that we should grab,” he said.
However, LaBenne noted that for several years, the Philippine government has been imposing a deployment ban for Filipino workers going to Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria and Lebanon based on security concerns. “This proposal addresses fundamental security concerns to make sure Filipino OFWs are safe and protected.”
He disclosed that 1,000 vacancies are up for grab until the end of February 2009. An estimated 1,000 more will be offered by mid-year.
LaBenne described the salary package offered by the NATO contractor as “amazing” and “one of the best ever for Filipino workers.”
The compensation package include: salaries ranging from (in US dollars) $385 to $800 per month; $1,200 annual bonus; free round trip airfare every six-months with 21 days paid leave for workers choosing to work 7 days a week; free round trip airfare every year with 40 days paid leave for workers choosing to work 6 days a week; free $30 phone card per month; no Afghanistan or US taxes are deducted from the salary and any other emoluments; food, lodging, uniforms, and laundry are all provided free of charge; a full-time doctor is available for the workers and medicine is free.
LaBenne said the NATO contractor will also provide accident, disability and death benefits. “Death benefits are three times the annual salary of the worker which would equal to a minimum of P650,000.
He also disclosed that the contractor urgently needs cooks, waiters, cashiers, utility workers, maintenance personnel, and other administrative personnel in Afghanistan.
“No placement or agency fee; no salary deductions; no other charges; medical examination shall be provided without charge to selected applicants through a reputable medical institutions. Successful applicants can be deployed in two weeks after passing the medical examination,” he said.
