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Pinoy Abroad

Total deployment ban may push Kuwait to sign agreement to protect Pinoy workers —DOLE


A total deployment ban may pressure Kuwait to sign a long-awaited bilateral agreement that will ensure additional protection for Filipino workers there, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview on Unang Balita on Monday.

"Itong ginawa ng ating Pangulo ay isang strong message sa ating mga kaibigan na taga-Kuwait na napapanahon na bigyan naman ng proteksyon ang ating mga manggagawa dun," Bello said.

Returning overseas Filipino workers may avail of the government reintegration program or help to enter alternative overseas labor markets like China, Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Japan.

Bello said the livelihood program in the reintegration package for OFWs will be improved to ensure that Filipinos actually benefit from it.

"Ngayon, mas istrikto na ngayon. Hindi na basta-basta magpresenta ng plano o kaya project proposal ay approved na," he said.

Former senator Manny Villar is also offering 18,000 jobs for skilled workers, while the Department of Education has a need for 2,000 teachers.

The labor secretary announced a total deployment ban for Kuwait on orders from President Rodrigo Duterte, spurred by continued reports of abuse towards Filipino overseas contract workers (OCWs).

Aspiring OCWs who already have visa and airfare to Kuwait requested exemptions to the ban.

The order for the suspension of deployment of new OCWs to the Gulf state or Filipino workers who have not worked in Kuwait prior to the order was reaffirmed on Friday.

While it is unclear if the total deployment ban of Filipino workers to Kuwait covers vacationing workers, reporter Tuesday Niu said in a report on Monday on Dobol B sa News TV that Malacañang will respect the wishes of OCWs who choose to remain in Kuwait.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Rodrigo Duterte merely wanted to ensure the safety of OCWs abroad especially since there are reports of continued abuses in Kuwait.

He added that Duterte ordered the ban in an effort to stop these incidents.

Filipino workers who want to take advantage of Duterte's offer to return home may get in touch with the nearest Philippine Overseas Labor Office or the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait for assistance.

He clarified that Duterte's request Filipinos in Kuwait to return home in 72 hours are merely for workers who wish to return to the Philippines, are distressed, or given amnesty.

DOLE is still studying if it will allow vacationing workers in the Philippines to return to Kuwait.

Some 250,000 documented Filipinos currently work in Kuwait. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News

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