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The suspension of chartered flights, nevertheless, might not be the one, and even important, issue preserving some Filipino staff on Diego Garcia, situated greater than 1,000 miles off the southern tip of India. A number of Filipino staff stated they had been reluctant to go away the island for residence visits, fearing that both the corporate or their very own authorities would stop them from returning to their jobs if the wage disagreement was not settled.
In statements to The Washington Submit, KBR denied that the suspension of flights was linked in any method to the wage dispute and initially stated it “canceled the constitution flights on the request of the U.S. authorities to assist stop COVID-19’s unfold.” In a subsequent assertion, the corporate stated there have been no chartered flights since late final yr as a result of an absence of demand from staff eager to journey, including that no staff have been unable to go away the island due to an absence of flights.
KBR had beforehand chartered flights about each three months that transported between 200 and 250 staff between the bottom and the Philippines. Employees stated in interviews that KBR representatives informed them the suspension of constitution flights this yr is due to the wage dispute.
Greater than 1,200 civilian staff on the base had been unable to journey earlier within the pandemic due to coronavirus flight restrictions, and lots of haven’t left Diego Garcia for greater than three years, staff stated.
Households have been divided. One employee, who spoke on the situation of anonymity fearing retribution, stated he has by no means met his daughter, who turned 3 earlier this yr. “I’ve solely ever seen her on video calls,” he stated. One other KBR worker stated she has not seen her 3-year-old for the reason that baby was a number of months previous.
“KBR has been stopping them from returning to the Philippines to be with their households except they signal an extension of their contract primarily based on the previous minimal wage charge,” stated Bernard Olalia, undersecretary of the Philippine Division of Migrant Employees. “In impact, KBR is using emotional blackmail by making their return to the Philippines conditional on their agreeing to an onerous contract. Not solely is that this illegal, however it additionally violates the fundamental rights of those Filipino staff.”
Philip Ivy, KBR’s vice chairman of world advertising and communications, rejected the accusation. “Constitution flights by no means had something in anyway to do with Philippine wage necessities, and if anybody had been informed that, it will have been inaccurate. We all know of no worker who was informed this,” he stated.
Ivy stated that navy flights connecting the bottom — a extremely strategic American outpost that helps U.S. Navy and Air Power operations — with Japan and Bahrain have continued to function and that Filipino staff are capable of take these flights, with the price of their onward journey to the Philippines lined by KBR. “When the provision of seats on navy flights is inadequate and the quantity of passengers each methods warrants a constitution flight, one is scheduled,” he stated.
However three staff stated in interviews that seats for contract staff on navy flights are scarce and that KBR has not supplied clear details about requesting a seat. There aren’t any industrial flights serving Diego Garcia.
“It didn’t must go this far,” stated a 33-year-old KBR employee on the island who additionally spoke on the situation of anonymity fearing he might lose his job. “We’re caught right here due to the minimal wage concern. Everyone seems to be upset, however we don’t have a alternative.”
One other KBR worker stated the wage dispute is preserving the corporate from with the ability to rent new staff. “If the constitution flights had been operating, individuals will go away and this might impression their operations. That’s what they’re afraid of,” stated the worker, who additionally spoke on the situation of anonymity fearing retribution.
Tensions between the Houston-based contractor and its staff have been rising for the reason that Philippine authorities demanded in October 2020 that firms on the bottom pay their Filipino staff the U.S. federal minimal wage of $7.25 per hour. The Philippine authorities units minimal wages for its residents who work overseas through agreements with employers, job recruiters and different governments, and at instances bans migration to nations it considers to be mistreating its nationals.
KBR, which employs greater than 1,200 principally Filipino staff at Diego Garcia as clerks, warehouse staff and in different semiskilled jobs, stored pay charges unchanged. Many staff have continued to be paid at an hourly charge of about $5.25 per hour, 4 staff stated.
Ivy stated KBR will not be underpaying its staff and already meets the usual set by the Philippine authorities. “Minimal whole compensation for our Filipino staff exceeds the mandated hourly charge when housing, meals, medical protection and different advantages are added in,” he stated in an announcement. Nor, he stated, do staff must signal an extension of their current contract to go away for trip.
To lift worker pay, Ivy stated, “KBR requested the [U.S.] Division of Protection if it will reimburse KBR for the price of the extra wages and the federal government declined.”
Cmdr. Katie Cerezo, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy, stated its contract with KBR is a fixed-price settlement. She stated the Navy values the work executed by Filipinos at Diego Garcia and that the specifics of employment are between KBR and its staff.
Whereas the overwhelming majority of KBR’s staff on Diego Garcia have historically been Filipino, the corporate is now making an attempt to rent staff of different nationalities, in response to its assertion.
KBR staff stated their employment is important for supporting their households within the Philippines and that shedding their jobs can be devastating.
“I’ve a household to feed. Life within the Philippines is so exhausting,” stated one employee, who sends cash residence each month to his dad and mom and siblings. “It’s higher to have this job than nothing, particularly now [that] the price of dwelling within the Philippines is getting increased.”
Whereas the employees are anticipating increased pay, they stated that Diego Garcia is a fascinating place to work and dwell. They stated their lodging are good and so they can spend their days off utilizing sports activities amenities and going to the seashores.
Diego Garcia is the most important island within the Chagos Archipelago, a British territory that has been leased to america for the previous 5 a long time solely for working a navy base. Strategically situated as a result of its proximity to the Center East, Africa, and South Asia, Diego Garcia serves as a naval logistics, communications and refueling hub. Plane working from Diego Garcia have been energetic in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The islands’ native inhabitants, the Chagossians, had been expelled by British and U.S. forces within the late Nineteen Sixties and early Seventies to clear the best way for growth of the navy base. The British authorities has barred the Chagossians from returning, citing protection and safety pursuits.
However the lack of an area inhabitants has meant that contractors for the U.S. Division of Protection have needed to depend on abroad staff, primarily recruiting them from the Philippines.
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