In line with the participation of the Philippines in the reconstruction program of Iraq and in furtherance of the Administration's thrust to maximize overseas employment opportunities for overseas Filipino workers, the following guidelines are hereby issued to govern the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers for principals and projects related to the reconstruction of Iraq:

I. Manpower Registration

Interested applicants may register either personally or by mail with the Manpower Registry Division of the POEA, nearest POEA, Regional Office/Extension Office, or DOLE Regional Office. No fees shall be charged or collected for registration.

II. Registration of Qualified Recruitment Agencies

The POEA shall maintain a list of qualified recruitment agencies authorized to recruit and deploy workers for Iraq. The agencies who will receive the "seal of good house keeping" from the Administration should meet the following standards/criteria:

1. Must be in operation for at least one (1) year
2. No adversely decided RV case for the past year
3. No adversely decided welfare case for the past year

The list shall be submitted to the Public-Private Sector Task Force on the Reconstruction of Iraq created by Executive Order, 194, series of 2003.

The agency's inclusion in the list shall be co-terminous with the validity of its license.

III. Registration of Employers/Principals

The employer/principal should submit the following verified documents to the POEA, through the Philippine licensed agent for registration:

1. Valid business license of the principal
2. Special power of attorney issued in favor of the Philippine agency
3. Manpower request indicating the positions, basic salary and number of workers needed
4. Master employment contract of the foreign principal/placement agency

IV. Worker Documentation

Qualified workers will be documented by the Administration upon submission of the following documents:

1. Request for processing
2. Individual employment contract
3. Worker's information sheet
4. Valid passport

V. Advertisements

Participating agencies may advertise in accordance with the guidelines governing the requirements and procedures prescribed under Part II, Rule VII of the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Workers. The Licensing and Regulation Office of the POEA shall continuously monitor advertisements on print, broadcast and television.

Furnishing any false notice or information, including promise of non-existent jobs in Iraq shall constitute illegal recruitment, for which the penalty is six (6) years and one (1) day to the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

IV. Pre-employment Medical Examination

The agency shall refer an applicant for medical examination to the DOH-Iraq accredited medical clinic only after the agency and/or principal has interviewed and pre-qualified the worker for an existing position duly covered by an approved job order by the Administration.

The agency or principal shall ensure that the medical examination shall be conducted in accordance with the medical protocol prescribed by the government of Iraq.

For compliance.

Date Filed: 17 June 2003

(SGD.) ROSALINDA DIMAPILIS-BALDOZ
  Administrator