Sushi Chef Returns Home after Shaky Working Stint in Iran

Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos (right) and Consul General Bryan Lao (left) accompany a Filipino sushi chef (center) to the airport for his home-bound flight to the Philippines. Difficulties arising from the economic sanctions in Iran have made it difficult for Iranian businesses to pay the wages of their skilled employees. (PM.Zohdi/WCS photo)

TEHRAN 14 August 2018 — The last person from a group of Filipino sushi chefs working in a popular restaurant franchise in Tehran has finally returned home to the Philippines after weeks of delay in the processing of his tax papers and exit clearance.

The Philippine Embassy in Tehran assisted in the repatriation of the professional worker, who has encountered difficulties in receiving regular wages from Iranian employers brought about by the shortage of foreign currency in the market.

The Embassy has noticed an ongoing trend of Filipino workers being lured to work in Iran, usually from Dubai and nearby Gulf Cooperation Council states, without employment contracts approved by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and with only tourist visas.

While employers are able to secure work permits from Iranian immigration, the absence of a formal employment contract that passes the minimum checks of the Philippine Government through the POEA or the Labor Attaché puts the Filipino worker at a great disadvantage, and severely limits the bargaining position in case of disputes.

The Embassy reminds Filipinos in Iran not to take unnecessary risks in working in the country, to make sure that employment opportunities are legitimate with a POEA-approved contract, and that the job site is among destination countries for overseas deployment approved by the Department of Labor and Employment. END

For more information, visit www.tehranpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/philippineembassy.tehran