DFA: 31 OFWs repatriated from Kuwait, 400 more to come home soon

At least 31 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait were repatriated to the Philippines Thursday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. In a news release, the DFA said the OFWs arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on board two regular Gulf Air flights Thursday morning. "The repatriates ran away from their respective employers due to poor working conditions, maltreatment or abuse, contract violations, and some for personal reasons," it said. The return of 400 others is also being arranged, it added. The DFA said the 31 sought shelter at the Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC) in Kuwait. It added the repatriation was due to the efforts of the Philippine Embassy led by Ambassador Shulan Primavera, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA). "POLO-OWWA provided food, other basic necessities, counseling, and medical assistance to the repatriates while they were at the FWRC," the DFA said. It added the Embassy and POLO-OWWA have repatriated more than 650 distressed OFWs since January 2012. — BM, GMA News