Filipinos affected by Kuwait employment ban troubled

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is assisting the affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who could not travel to Kuwait after the entry and work visas of Filipino workers in the said country in the Middle East were suspended.

In a report by JP Soriano on GMA News “24 Oras” this Thursday, the DMW said that they are providing P30,000 to the affected OFWs.

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But some OFWs can’t help fearing their situation, such as those who left their jobs thinking they would be able to continue working in Kuwait.

“Nag-resign ako sa work ko dahil sa akala namin na nakakaalis na kami, and then, hindi naman namin inexpect then. Wala din naman kami masisi kasi hindi naman kasalanan ng gobyerno natin,” said OFW Roy.

Department of Foreign Affairs and DMW officials recently went to Kuwait to explain the importance of shelters for OFWs fleeing cruel employers.

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It was previously reported that the Kuwaiti government is complaining about the shelter managed by the Philippine embassy there.

Despite this, Philippine officials maintained that the existence of a shelter for Filipinos abroad is consistent with international law.

The affected OFWs hope that the Philippines and Kuwait will resolve the matter so that their departure can proceed.

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Hanggat hindi nag e-expire yung visa namin hindi naman kami nawawalan ng pag-asa na maka-alis,” another OFW said.

Filipinos affected by Kuwait employment ban troubled

DMW undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac admitted that there is still no certainty as to when Kuwait will lift the implemented suspension of Filipinos’ visas.

Other OFWs who can’t wait longer are considering just applying to another country.

The DMW will help them find another job.

“Maaari pong kaparehong trabaho kung hindi man kaparehong-kapareho ay equal or similar na job category,” said DMW assistant secretary Kiko de Guzman.

In 2020, the Philippines and Kuwait signed an agreement for an employment , which aims to strengthen the protection of Filipino household service workers from abuse.

The contract includes rules relating to the protection of household service workers on their passports, their use of cell phones, and their transfer to other employers without the permission of the Philippine labor attaché.

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