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PH, Kuwait agree to resume deployment of skilled workers, limited deployment of domestic workers

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ZEN HERNANDEZ

ABS-CBN News

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — After a year of suspension in new deployments of Filipino workers to Kuwait, the governments of the two countries have finally reached an agreement to deploy skilled workers and household workers.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px">“Nagkaroon ng pag-uusap tungo sa pagpayag muli, pagbukas muli ng deployment ng skilled workers in Kuwait, non-domestic workers. At least yung newly hired, di ba? Kasi pwede naman yung mga returning,&quot; <span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(65, 65, 65);color:rgb(65, 65, 65)">Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced Tuesday, June 25, 2024.</span></p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><span id="isPasted">(There have been talks towards the resumption of deployment of skilled workers to Kuwait. At least the newly hired. Because we already allow returning migrant workers.) </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px">&quot;And for domestic workers, pumayag ang Kuwaiti side sa proposal ng Philippine side na limited pa rin ang domestic work deployment to those with work experience.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px">(And for domestic workers, the Kuwaiti side had accepted our proposals to limit the deployment of domestic workers to only those who have work experience.) </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">According to Cacdac, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia was in Kuwait last week to meet with Kuwaiti authorities, inluding the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Public Authority for Manpower to discuss several matters concerning overseas Filipino workers (OFW). </p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/11/23/kuwait-rues-deployment-deferment-of-first-time-pinoy-domestic-workers">RELATED: Kuwait rues deployment deferment of first-time Pinoy domestic workers</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Philippines deferred the deployment of newly hired Filipino household workers to Kuwait due to the gruesome murder of OFW Jullebee Ranara.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Ranara’s body was abandoned and found in the desert on January 21, 2023 after being raped, murdered and burnt. In September 2023, Ranara’s killer, the son of her employer, was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison for murder and driving without license.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cQXcDCmYvKU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px">The Kuwaiti government however responded to the Philippines’ deferment of newly hired household workers with a ban in the hiring of all Filipino workers.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px">Over a year after, both governments have agreed to install safeguards for OFWs including a whitelist and blacklist of recruitment agencies deploying to Kuwait, electronic payment of salaries to address issues on non-payment and delays, the appointment of welfare officers froom both Philippine and Kuwaiti recruitment agencies, and the creation of a joint working group that would discuss issues and concerns.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Meanwhile, Philippine lawyers continue to work on Ranara’s legal case.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Convicted ng 16 years imprisonment yung salarin but that’s not the complete justice, yung hustisya, ganap na hustisya na gusto natin dahil meron pang civil aspect ito and right now we’re working with the lawyers and the family of Jullebee, andito lang sina nanay nung isang araw sa DMW at isinasagawa ngayon yung filing of the civil action for damages again through our lawyer,” Cacdac explained.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The DMW were also in talks with Kuwaiti authorities regarding legal actions on a fire that killed 50 foreign workers including Filipinos.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Alam natin na may tatlong nasawi at dalawang malubha ang pinsala at alam nating may mga legal liabilities na sa ngayon ay iniimbestigahan ng legal authorities. So tinitingnan ni Usec Bernard (Olalia) doon, through our lawyer, our legally retained lawyer, yung legal action that can be filed in behalf of the fire victims,” Cacdac said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/6/14/kuwait-makes-arrests-over-fire-that-killed-3-filipinos-844"><strong>RELATED: </strong>Kuwait makes arrests over fire that killed 3 Filipinos</a></div>

<p>Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia was in Kuwait last week to meet with Kuwaiti authorities to discuss several matters concerning overseas Filipino workers.</p>

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia was in Kuwait last week to meet with Kuwaiti authorities to discuss several matters concerning overseas Filipino workers.