The deployment ban in Iraq that was issued by the Philippine government in 2004 failed to discourage Filipinos who wish to work there. A recruiting company consultant informed that almost 10,000 OFWs are presently in Iraq.
Emmanuel Geslani of Anglo-European Services Inc said that most of the OFWs there enter Iraq via Dubai and Kuwait. Most are employed at US military bases including camps Anaconda and Victory. Iraq presently needs workers for construction and development projects.
Some agencies and OFWs hopes that the ban will be lifted soon. Geslani said, “ Many of the former Iraq workers were bitter against the Arroyo administration for imposing the ban. The decision to continue the ban was “ill-conceived” as security in Iraq had improved.”