TCNs: THE UNSUNG HEROS IN IRAQ!

[Good_Karma]

Yup I had firsthand witness of the TCN's living conditions in Iraq. In fact I had to get nasty at KBR, PPI, First Kuwaiti, etc.. to get their acts together to ensure these TCNs got treated right. They did, at least in the camps I had oversight.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12675

[Blacize]

But it's the same story over here in Kuwait and in Qatar. Third-Country-Nationals i.e. Indians and Bahrainians who contract with the military are paid very little (in comparison to westerners) and housed like slaves, literally. Contractors get away with it for paying them according to the position wages in their home country. It's good to "hear" that someone is fighting for their right to decency.

[Silver Spoon]

Wow....it's good to hear people talking about this. It saddened my heart when my Husband told me about the living conditions of his 7 man crew. He said most were Philipino and a couple of guys from India. He told me of the very very low wage, living in unair-conditioned steel trailers and sent me this picture of what they were fed. Just a little meat very little veggies but yet a whole lot of white rice. He said his crew was employed by a British Co. It really is sad when you hear of big Corprates being able to fly under the radar of basic human rights. :(

[Javabear]

But don't get too teary eyed,

$650 USD/month goes a long way in most of these people's home countries. Need an example? 1 year of college to be an RN in the Phillipines is 15,000 pesos, that's about $273 USD and that includes room and board. I got that straight from one of the Filipino guys I work with about his daughter. As far as the food goes, my partner and I get take out boxes from the DFAC at mealtimes and bring our tcn friends some better grub than what their companies give them. Their living conditions are pretty rough too, but there's not much I can personally do about that.

[Laurali]

Yes, the TCN issue has been long overdue in being resolved. It's the subcontract administrators that do no monitor these recruiting/labor force companies to make sure they adhere to their contract, and to US standards. I can go on and on with what I witnessed first hand. Alas, I know that there is a rebidding about to take place for labor force companies on one camp. Specifically, the bidding will require the NEW subcontractor to provide HUMANE living accommodations similar to what the contractors get, and to show how they intend to better share their fee with the employees, rather than keep the majority of it for the greedy management and corporate levels. I don't know if this will be taking place all across Iraq, but I do know it is happening in one particular area. So, we'll see if they get more to eat than eggs, rice, chicken and fish, and if it is even SAFE to eat. Personally, I take care of as many as I can, which is just how I am. In my opinion, the greed of the individual companies will return to bite them where it hurts when they least expect it as the meak prosper.

[myranchretirement]

Yes, the TCN issue has been long overdue in being resolved. It's the subcontract administrators that do no monitor these recruiting/labor force companies to make sure they adhere to their contract, and to US standards. I can go on and on with what I witnessed first hand. Alas, I know that there is a rebidding about to take place for labor force companies on one camp. Specifically, the bidding will require the NEW subcontractor to provide HUMANE living accommodations similar to what the contractors get, and to show how they intend to better share their fee with the employees, rather than keep the majority of it for the greedy management and corporate levels. I don't know if this will be taking place all across Iraq, but I do know it is happening in one particular area. So, we'll see if they get more to eat than eggs, rice, chicken and fish, and if it is even SAFE to eat. Personally, I take care of as many as I can, which is just how I am. In my opinion, the greed of the individual companies will return to bite them where it hurts when they least expect it as the meak prosper.

Same here. I have Turkish and Nepalese and some Filipinos. They have had deplorable conditions in the past and yes it falls to subcontracts to enforce the contract. It has gotten somewhat better only because our labor contract is up for bid as well. I do as much as I can for these guy's and gal's via buying medicines from the PX and I have my wife send me large bottles of Ibuprofen and for some of these folks I have given clothes and have had my wife buy clothes and send them. The majority of these people come from small villages with nothing more than the clothes on their back and are often lied to by the sub-contractor companies in order to get them to come here. I get them food when I can but it's hard to feed 70 peeps. I've been known to spend several hundred dolars on pizza because the food they got was totally insufficient. These people work hard and they definitely deserve better.

[Silver Spoon]

http://www.sheplers.com/item.cfm?DI=...GOHDDADADADBDB

This is a link to Shepler's website...right now they have the wrangler slim fit on sale for just $20. This style should fit slim built guys plus they're the good rugged type denim. I ordered 4 pair for my Hubby 32x32...turns out they were too small so he gave them to coworkers.
Just thought I'd pass this link along to you all over there in Iraq. Shipping takes roughly 7 days....give a few more due to the holidays. MRR got me thinking they would make nice gifts for the Holiday...since some of these TCN's might be in need.

:o JUST A THOUGHT

[Laurali]

I'm in Kuwait at this moment. My favorite Filipino admin. asst. requested me to bring him some Guess jeans. Well, thanks to the conversion rate here, his jeans are costing me nearly $100. But, he loyal and such a wonderful worker, not to mention a great friend. So, I have his jeans already in my suitcase for him.
Another thing I have done is go to the Good Will stores while state side, and purchase items for the ladies. We all know that the PX doesn't carry many clothes for women in general. So, I purchase loads of tops for $1-$3 each, and other items they would like or can use. I've also gather up my daughter's clothing that she felt was no longer "stylish" or whatever we no longer fit in. Then, I have it shipped to camp. They love it and it warms my heart.