Why use foreign workers in Iraq?

Why are foreign workers being used by contractors in Iraq? Why is Halliburton bringing in Philippinos to do laundry and driving, why are we flying Nepalese into Iraq?

Are there so many gainfully employed Iraqis that we have to fly people halfway around the world to rebuild the country? Isn't a key to rebuilding a country public works that employ idle hands?

Either the US government is so hated and mistrusted in Iraq that it's hard to find Iraqis to work for us, or everyone is so busy fighting in the insurgency that we can't find basic labor.

Is the country so out-of-control dangerous that we can't provide security to Iraqis who want to work for the US, so we bring in foreign workers who live in firebases, er, Green Zones 24/7?

Or, and this one is so harsh it's hard to believe: It's actually cheaper to bring in foreign workers and pay them to work than it is to hire Iraqis.

What the hell is going on over there?

Maybe Cheney will be able to answer that question, but ocurss nobody dare to ask him about it because he will tell you to go and ________

It means there are no qualified Iraqis to do the job professionally, they are not trained etc.

Originally posted by Megaquad
It means there are no qualified Iraqis to do the job professionally, they are not trained etc.

Yeah, you know, operating laundry machines, driving trucks, preparing food in chow halls, and following the orders of your construction foreman takes years of intensive training.

I don't believe there are no Iraqis who can do laundry and other no-skill tasks.

Iraq had many engineers at one point.

I believe it was once known as the Germany of the Middle East.

[edit on 1-9-2004 by AceOfBase]

Originally posted by taibunsuu

Originally posted by Megaquad
It means there are no qualified Iraqis to do the job professionally, they are not trained etc.

Yeah, you know, operating laundry machines, driving trucks, preparing food in chow halls, and following the orders of your construction foreman takes years of intensive training.

Companies cannot afford to risk it with Iraqis when they already have employees who can do the job fast as needed... Simple as that. This is capitalism and those companies don't have to fulfill every heart touching demand of masses. It doesn't work that way.

Originally posted by Megaquad

Originally posted by taibunsuu

Originally posted by Megaquad
It means there are no qualified Iraqis to do the job professionally, they are not trained etc.

Yeah, you know, operating laundry machines, driving trucks, preparing food in chow halls, and following the orders of your construction foreman takes years of intensive training.

Companies cannot afford to risk it with Iraqis when they already have employees who can do the job fast as needed... Simple as that. This is capitalism and those companies don't have to fulfill every heart touching demand of masses. It doesn't work that way.

This is essentially saying that the US does not care about Iraqis, when care for the Iraqi people was the entire reason for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Note it wasn't Operation Western Capitalism in Iraq. So unless you agree that we are their shilling the Iraqis for every penny and not even bothering to give them table scraps on the side, there's something essentially wrong with not bothering to hire Iraqis.

Originally posted by taibunsuu

Originally posted by Megaquad

Originally posted by taibunsuu

Originally posted by Megaquad
It means there are no qualified Iraqis to do the job professionally, they are not trained etc.

Yeah, you know, operating laundry machines, driving trucks, preparing food in chow halls, and following the orders of your construction foreman takes years of intensive training.

Companies cannot afford to risk it with Iraqis when they already have employees who can do the job fast as needed... Simple as that. This is capitalism and those companies don't have to fulfill every heart touching demand of masses. It doesn't work that way.

This is essentially saying that the US does not care about Iraqis, when care for the Iraqi people was the entire reason for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Note it wasn't Operation Western Capitalism in Iraq. So unless you agree that we are their shilling the Iraqis for every penny and not even bothering to give them table scraps on the side, there's something essentially wrong with not bothering to hire Iraqis.

Iraqi living standard has improved a lot since after the invasion, mostly for public sector workers like police or teachers.
Those foreign workers there and probably soldiers too get to spend some of their money in Iraq so it gets into circulation for all people.
Although I'm not sure has that translated into new jobs (in private sector), things will get a lot better after all this violence ends.
In 30-40 years Iraq could have living standard of Portugal or South Korea now. That is, unless another backward lunatic regime comes into power.

And.. US govt. can't really order some corporation to hire Iraqi people unless it's specifically agreed in contract, they just give them funds and rest is company's business, they do it in the most profitable way. They already have people who know they can do the job, know what it means to be contracted.
Because problem is, many Iraqi's don't have work experience (especially for large american companies)... there have been problems with them starting to do their job then wander off.. they can be strange.

Originally posted by taibunsuu
Why are foreign workers being used by contractors in Iraq? Why is Halliburton bringing in Philippinos to do laundry and driving, why are we flying Nepalese into Iraq?

Are there so many gainfully employed Iraqis that we have to fly people halfway around the world to rebuild the country? Isn't a key to rebuilding a country public works that employ idle hands?

Either the US government is so hated and mistrusted in Iraq that it's hard to find Iraqis to work for us, or everyone is so busy fighting in the insurgency that we can't find basic labor.

Is the country so out-of-control dangerous that we can't provide security to Iraqis who want to work for the US, so we bring in foreign workers who live in firebases, er, Green Zones 24/7?

Or, and this one is so harsh it's hard to believe: It's actually cheaper to bring in foreign workers and pay them to work than it is to hire Iraqis.

What the hell is going on over there?

Simple, huge corporations stand to make more profit if they can keep
their labor costs low. It's basic economics not to mention that we Americans
would not get into a frenzy if we are not the ones getting beheaded!

In 30-40 years Iraq could have living standard of Portugal or South Korea now. That is, unless another backward lunatic regime comes into power

Your forgetting that not so long ago (the 70's and 80's, before we screwed them) they had those living standards! They even had a National Health Service that rivalled anything in Europe! It wasn't until we stiched them up in Iran, in Kuwait and then the 10yrs of sanctions that things went to the crapper.

[edit on 1-9-2004 by stumason]

Originally posted by Megaquad
And.. US govt. can't really order some corporation to hire Iraqi people unless it's specifically agreed in contract, they just give them funds and rest is company's business, they do it in the most profitable way.

Most governments will not give work permits to foreigners unless they can prove there are no local persons who can do the job.

There are rules in some countries that state that only x % of a companies workforce can be foreign.

I don't think that's happening in Iraq.

The US did have a chance to force those companies to do that, as they ran the government prior to Allawi.

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Simple, huge corporations stand to make more profit if they can keep
their labor costs low.

I think Haliburton and others can afford the $5 per day that Iraqis get.

Originally posted by AceOfBase

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Simple, huge corporations stand to make more profit if they can keep
their labor costs low.

I think Haliburton and others can afford the $5 per day that Iraqis get.

Greed, greed and more greed, that is the name of the game. Phillipinos
and chinese will work for $3 Dollars to $0.50 (respectively) just so they can send money home to support their families. I know, I was there.