Duterte mulls ‘total ban’ on OFW deployment to Kuwait

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he is planning to impose a total ban on deploying overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait following reports of sexual abuses.

He said the Philippines "lost" four Filipina workers in Kuwait over the past months.

"We have lost about four Filipino women in the last few months. It’s always in Kuwait," Duterte said at the launching of the Overseas Filipino Bank without elaborating.

"So usap kami ni [Foreign Affairs Secretary] Alan [Peter Cayetano], it's either—my advice is, we talk to them, state the truth and just tell them that it's not acceptable anymore. Either [that or] we impose a total ban."

Duterte added, "I do not want a quarrel with Kuwait. I respect their leaders, but they have to do something about this. Kasi karamihan ng Pilipina mag-suicide… Itong mga ‘to, they claim abuse, sexually and all, and they endure."

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III had earlier described the OFW situation in Kuwait as "problematic," citing the numerous complaints of maltreatment.

In a chance interview following the launch of the OF Bank, Bello said although Duterte's statements are not yet final, he — Bello — will not hesitate to stop deployment once it is proven that OFWs are maltreated to death.  

"Ilalahat ko kung sasakali na totoo, kung ganoon ang istorya na there were deaths resulting from maltreatment or abuse," he said. 

If it pushes through, the ban will not affect personal trips, he added. 

Most OFWs in Kuwait work as housemaids and nannies.

Kuwait was the fourth OFW destination in 2017, according to Workabroad.ph. —KBK, GMA News