Ex-labor official calls for better protection, monitoring of OFWs after Pinay death in Kuwait

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/23P0leXymv4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>MANILA - A former labor official on Saturday called for stronger monitoring and protection mechanisms for overseas Filipino workers following the death of another Filipina allegedly in the hands of her employers in Kuwait. &quot;The real challenge would be how to educate these employers, how to strengthen the monitoring mechanisms on site, and how to also have a less adversarial relationship between licensed agencies, government, and also the foreign recruitment agencies abroad. The weakest link would always be the worker,&quot; said Susan Ople, head of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and a former labor undersecretary. The death of OFW Jeanelyn Villavende has triggered a review of the bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait. Ople said it should also prompt a review of how stakeholders could meet and agree on a monitoring system that would actually work to prevent similar incidents. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/01/20/palace-outraged-by-death-of-pinay-domestic-worker-in-kuwait">Palace outraged by death of Pinay domestic worker in Kuwait</a></li></ul>An early report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Kuwait indicated that Villavende was &quot;maltreated&quot; by her employer.Her employer has been arrested and is now in the custody of Kuwaiti authorities.&quot;We hope that when the joint committee composed of high level Filipino and Kuwaiti labor officials meet this month there would be reforms,&quot; said Ople on ANC&#x27;s Dateline Philippines.Ople said an important area that should be looked at is how recruitment agencies monitor living conditions of its workers.&quot;Are these monitoring and abuse prevention mechanisms here and overseas, do they actually work?&quot; she said.Following Villavende&#x27;s death, the Philippines has imposed a partial ban on the deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait. The ban includes household workers, both new hires and those with expired contracts.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/03/20/kuwait-deployment-ban-covers-new-household-workers-those-with-expired-contracts-labor-chief">Kuwait deployment ban covers new household workers, those with expired contracts: Labor chief</a></li></ul>&quot;We support the move of the Department of Labor and Employment. We also condemn the murder of 26-year-old Jeanelyn Villavende. She certainly did not deserve nor expected this kind of treatment from her female employer and the husband is an employee of the Kuwaiti government,&quot; said Ople.She lamented that despite a bilateral labor agreement signed between the Philippines and Kuwait in 2018, abuses and maltreatment of OFWs continue.&quot;She&#x27;s not an isolated case because the number of welfare cases in Kuwait has exceeded the number of welfare cases in Saudi Arabia which has an even bigger OFW population,&quot; said Ople. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/02/20/ofw-sought-help-from-agency-months-before-she-was-killed-by-kuwaiti-employer">OFW sought help from agency months before she was killed by Kuwaiti employer</a></li></ul>Meanwhile, Ople urged government agencies to assist workers that would be affected by the ban.&quot;I think DOLE, DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and the Department of Agriculture perhaps could put together an alternative livelihood and employment program for them,&quot; she said.She added that it is important that workers, especially women, consider upskilling.&quot;The best protection for them would be the skills that they possess,&quot; said Ople.She pointed out that regardless of destination, when workers leave there are inherent risks their jobs entail. &quot;Because once you enter the domicile of a foreign employer you become invisible not only to our government, but also to the government of the host country.&quot;

MANILA - An advocate of Filipino migrant workers (OFWs) on Saturday called for a strengthened monitoring and protection mechanism following the death domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende in the hands of her employer in Kuwait.

MANILA - An advocate of Filipino migrant workers (OFWs) on Saturday called for a strengthened monitoring and protection mechanism following the death domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende in the hands of her employer in Kuwait.

Ex-labor official calls for better protection, monitoring of OFWs after Pinay death in Kuwait | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

News

Ex-labor official calls for better protection, monitoring of OFWs after Pinay death in Kuwait

Ex-labor official calls for better protection, monitoring of OFWs after Pinay death in Kuwait

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 04, 2020 02:54 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 07, 2020 01:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Susan Ople

OFW

Jeanelyn Villavende

ANC

Dateline Philippines

OFW protection

Partial deployment ban

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.