Question & AnswerQ&A (POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 16)
The purpose of POEA Memorandum Circular No. 16, s. 2003 is to provide guidelines on the recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers for principals and projects related to the reconstruction of Iraq, in line with the Philippines' participation in Iraq's reconstruction program and the promotion of overseas employment opportunities.
Interested applicants who want to work in Iraq-related projects can register personally or by mail with the Manpower Registry Division of the POEA or its Regional/Extension Offices and DOLE Regional Offices.
No, there are no fees charged or collected for registration with the Manpower Registry Division for recruitment and deployment to Iraq reconstruction projects.
Agencies must be in operation for at least one year, have no adversely decided recruitment violation (RV) cases in the past year, and have no adversely decided welfare cases in the past year to receive the "seal of good housekeeping" and be authorized to recruit and deploy workers for Iraq.
The employer/principal must submit a valid business license, a special power of attorney issued to the Philippine recruitment agency, a manpower request indicating positions, salary and number of workers, and a master employment contract of the foreign principal or placement agency.
Qualified workers must submit a request for processing, an individual employment contract, a worker's information sheet, and a valid passport to the POEA.
Advertising must comply with the guidelines under Part II, Rule VII of the 2002 POEA Rules and Regulations. The Licensing and Regulation Office monitors all advertisements, and furnishing false information or promising non-existent jobs in Iraq constitutes illegal recruitment.
The penalty for illegal recruitment, including false advertisements promising non-existent jobs in Iraq, is imprisonment ranging from six years and one day to life imprisonment.
The worker should undergo the medical examination only after the recruitment agency and/or principal has interviewed, pre-qualified the applicant for a specific position covered by an approved job order, and referred the applicant to a DOH-Iraq accredited medical clinic.
The medical examination must be conducted in accordance with the medical protocol prescribed by the government of Iraq to ensure fitness for the job and compliance with Iraq's health requirements.