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'Proof of life' measures for Filipino workers in Kuwait proposed

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Distressed OFWs at the Kuwait International Airport Terminal 4 waiting for check-in procedures in this photo taken in 2020. Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/overseas/03/25/ofw.jpg"/><figcaption>Distressed OFWs at the Kuwait International Airport Terminal 4 waiting for check-in procedures in this photo taken in 2020. <em>Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — A lawmaker on Tuesday proposed several measures that would help ensure the welfare of Filipino workers in Kuwait.</p><p>According to Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo, shelters for abused workers should be non-negotiable during the talks between Philippine and Kuwaiti officials.</p><p>The chairman of the House panel on overseas workers affairs also proposed so-called proof of life measures to protect Filipinos in the Gulf nation.</p><p>&quot;One of those perhaps is a requirement by the employer that they would bring the Filipino worker to the foreign recruitment office or at the POLO&#x27;s office regularly. Perhaps, once every quarter or perhaps, every month,&quot; Salo told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart&quot;.</p><p>&quot;This is what we called the proof of life. That even there are no police officers going to the homes of the employers, we&#x27;re pretty assured that our Filipino workers are really being treated well,&quot; he added.</p><p>The lawmaker lamented that some employers still hold the passport of the household workers in Kuwait.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/11/23/kuwait-imposes-entry-ban-on-filipinos-wo-residence-permit">Kuwait imposes entry ban on Filipinos without residence permit</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/13/23/ph-officials-say-kuwait-entry-ban-a-retaliation">PH officials say Kuwait entry ban a retaliation</a></li></ul><p>Philippine officials will visit the Gulf State this week to clarify the suspension of the issuance of new entry visas for Filipinos.</p><p>Without giving details, Kuwait has said the move was due to the Philippines&#x27; violation on a labor agreement.</p><p>In February, the Department of Migrant Workers implemented a deployment ban for newly hired or first-time domestic workers in Kuwait following the brutal killing of Jullebee Ranara.</p><p>The 35-year-old domestic worker was found dead in a desert in the Gulf State on January 21. </p><p>An autopsy report showed Ranara was pregnant at the time of her death.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/15/20/total-ban-ph-stops-sending-filipino-workers-to-kuwait-in-wake-of-pinays-slay">Total ban: PH stops sending Filipino workers to Kuwait in wake of Pinay&#x27;s slay</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/05/12/23/halos-3000-stranded-sa-ph-dahil-sa-kuwait-entry-ban">Halos 3,000 stranded sa Pilipinas dahil sa Kuwait entry ban</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2617548" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

A lawmaker on Tuesday proposed several measures that would help ensure the welfare of Filipino workers in Kuwait.