KBR Contradicts Itself On Human Rights Stand In Iraq

KBR is all over the news…or at least the foreign news. Apparently Americans are more interested in Britney Spears birthday that their tax dollars supporting human trafficking in Iraq!

I have had issues with KBR’s “hands off” policy when it comes to reprimanding labor contractors such as D&P, PPI, UPI, ESS, NASA and others. KBR is currently being sued for Human Trafficking of Napoli workers. I have been blogging about KBR’s involvement in human trafficking for awhile. Click HERE to see those. Be sure to read the astonishing comments from current and former KBR employees.

An article was recently published regarding 1000 Sub Contract Workers (SCW) also known as Third Country Nationals (TCN) being held in deplorable conditions in a warehouse in Baghdad, all promised jobs for KBR. KBR’s response to this article was:

“When KBR becomes aware of potential violations of international laws regarding Trafficking in Persons, we work, within our authority, to remediate the problem and report the matter to proper authorities. KBR then works with authorities to rectify the matter,” the company said in a statement.

Hmmmm. OK. Below is an email I received from a former KBR employee with regards to the quality of food being fed to SCW’s at his camp.

Ms Sparky, here is some info I saved from last year that a senior sub contract administrator put out to all of us – basically telling safety, and all other shops to keep our noses out of “our” subcontractor’s business on how they fed their employees (our SCW’s). There was literally worms in the food and also the same food was given to these young Indian and Nepalese kids everyday. This made a lot of us angry, but you know the old KBR tactic, keep you and me fearful for our own jobs and keep our mouth shut or go home. . . I think this high paid SOB is still around the XX-sites. What a a**hole he was/is. . . we all wanted to tell this SOB “you eat their food then”.

The time frame is May 2007. Evidently, many KBR employees had complained to the Sub Contract Administrator (SCA). When that SCA elevated the concerns to the Procurement Manager, this was his response. Please note-I have removed the name and location of this manager. Although I have no reason to doubt the authenticity, I can not verify the accuracy of this email. I have forwarded this email to the appropriate investigative Senate committee.

To All:

The food is not mandated by KBR, the Military or anyone else. We are to stay out of issues with food and the business of the Subcontractors. We are not dietitian, medics, or Subject Matter Expert on food and diets therefore we cannot impose our opinion on these contracted companies.

KBR will not dictate any food source to any Business that is contracted by the US Government through KBR, no more then we will dictate to the Military what they feed us.

If there are ANY question regarding food you are to send the SCW to discuss this with their Management Staff and stand down from generating issues where when you do not understand that other personnel within KBR have that responsibility. The facilities are in compliant with requirements and we will not determine what other countries are to eat or why they eat the way they do nor do we have any say over their menus or diets.

KBR will not be held liable for imposing food menus on other business based on our feelings where many Nationalities eat differently and the Subcontractors have to meet their needs for their diets. KBR will not be held liable for feeding them incorrect diets.

This is not our issue and KBR will not impose itself in this matter. KBR will hold the subcontracted companies to the Term and Conditions in the Contract.

Best Regards,

(Manager’s Name Removed…For Now)
Procurement Manager
KBRS
XX FOB XXXXXX
APO AE 093XX
Office: 713-XXX-XXXX

I’m sure KBR will have some pat answer for this Manager’s response. But this is how I witnessed KBR deal with the atrocities of their “slave brokers”….I mean labor contractors!

Please comment and tell me your Sub Contract Worker SCW/TCN horror stories. I will pass them on if you want.

Ms Sparky