Baghdad, July 27: Iraq has been very harsh to Alvin Macadangdang, a Filipino who came to the post-US invasion country lured by promises of safe work and high pay to provide for his three children back home.
“I was told that my salary was going to be US $500, which is a very good amount of money in my country,” Macadangdang, 34, told.
But when he arrived in Iraq to work in a leather company, he discovered that all the promises of the velvet-tongued labor recruiters were hollow.
“I was taken to a dirty room that I had to divide with four other Filipinos, and the bathroom had a very bad smell,” Macadangdang recalled.
“They don’t offer food and my first salary was half of the promised.”
Iraq Invasion (Special Coverage) When he thought of returning home, he discovered he was literally a prisoner of his recruiters. “The money isn’t enough to buy a one-way ticket and I haven’t spoken with my family since the day I arrived as they prevented me from telling them about my situation,” he charged.
“My passport is with my boss, and like my other colleagues, I was threatened that if I try to do something, I will never see my family again,” added Macadangdang.
“The dream I had had with my family was fake.”
Many foreign laborers are reportedly drawn to Iraq by promises of lucrative jobs, only to find the ugly reality on the ground once they arrive.
Until recently, the security situation precluded Iraqi enterprises from bringing in foreign workers.
But in the past few months, it has become a booming business, according to Iraqi businessmen.
Deceived
Unlike Macadangdang, Abeba Dahnay was not in Iraq by choice.
She was told by her contractor in her homeland Ethiopia that she was going to work as housekeeper in Lebanon.
She was taken to Syria where she stayed for 4 days.
“I thought that they were taking me to their home that was outside Beirut because I didn’t have an idea in how big the country was,” Dahnay, 21, told.
“I only realized that I was in Baghdad when I saw the name of Iraq written in English on all signs during the road trip,” she added.
“When we arrived at a home, a woman came to speak with me in English and I started to scream. I said I should be in Beirut and not Baghdad, so she slapped my face.”
It has been six months since Dahnay was tricked into Iraq, a period during which she has been suffering abuse and menial treatment.
“My passport is with them, and anything I do wrong is a reason for my boss to kick or beat me.”
Dahnay is not alone.
Dozens of workers are trickled into Iraq with promises of work in safer countries in the Middle East.
They usually come from countries such as Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Last December, about 1,000 Asian men were rescued after a subcontractor to the US military confined them for 3 months in windowless warehouses near Baghdad airport without money or a place to work.
Paige Valdez, also an Ethiopian, was initially reluctant to be interviewed but then hoped that by speaking up somebody might be listening and ready to help.
She, too, was tricked into Iraq more than a year ago by a recruiting agent.
“I work like a slave. There isn’t time to sleep or take rest. I have to stay awake until the last member of the family has gone to sleep,” Valdez, 19, told.
“The wife gives me orders all day and when I don’t do something on time or not as requested, I’m punished by staying without my next meal. Her husband is tough and hits me at least once a week,” she complained.
“I can’t wait for the day that they take me back to my country. There I didn’t have a good life but at least I had respect.”
-Agencies