Push Admin

Deployment ban to Kuwait 'best way forward,' says OWWA exec

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/overseas/02/16/20180217-ofw-kuwait-demafiles.jpg"/><figcaption>Remains of Joanna Daniela Demafelis, the OFW whose body was found in a freezer in Kuwait, arrives at the cargo terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. <em>ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA- The Philippine government&#x27;s deployment ban of workers to Kuwait is the &quot;best way forward&quot; in light of the reported deaths of Filipinos in the Gulf state, a government official said Tuesday.</p><p>Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said now is the right time to impose the deployment ban to ensure protection of Filipino workers overseas.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ANCRecap?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ANCRecap</a>: &quot;The President is emphasizing the need to uphold the dignity of OFWs.&quot; OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac explains the reason behind deployment ban. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeyondPolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeyondPolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rw6cShAWoV">pic.twitter.com/Rw6cShAWoV</a></p>— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS/status/965914132368171009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;This is a measure to prevent future deaths of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and a measure to ensure that there will be protection,&quot; he said in an interview on ANC&#x27;s Beyond Politics Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;We have a president with a clear political will to assert the dignity of OFWs and now is the best time to assert that,&quot; he added.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ANCRecap?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ANCRecap</a>: OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac explains the government&#x27;s reintegration program for returning OFWs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeyondPolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeyondPolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/4pl7ZLpvW6">pic.twitter.com/4pl7ZLpvW6</a></p>— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS/status/965917073695064064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The Philippines earlier this month barred Filipinos from working in Kuwait after the recent deaths of 7 migrant workers, including Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/12/18/ph-orders-total-ban-on-workers-deployment-to-kuwait">PH orders total ban on workers&#x27; deployment to Kuwait</a></li></ul><p>&quot;In light of deaths in 2017 and culminated by Joanna Demafelis&#x27; death, heinous death, I think that the clear pronouncement of the President is the best way forward,&quot; Cacdac said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/10/18/family-seeks-justice-for-ofw-found-in-freezer-in-kuwait">Family seeks justice for OFW found in freezer in Kuwait</a></li></ul><p>President Rodrigo Duterte had lamented Demafelis&#x27; death and expressed outrage over reported abuses of Filipinos in Kuwait.</p><p>“The Filipino is no slave to anyone, anywhere and everywhere,” Duterte previously said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/09/18/the-filipino-is-no-slave-duterte-fumes-at-latest-pinay-death-in-kuwait">&#x27;The Filipino is no slave&#x27;: Duterte fumes at latest Pinay death in Kuwait</a></li></ul><div><strong>&#x27;SPECIAL CASE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Cacdac said, in 2017 alone, 12 &quot;questionable&quot; Filipino deaths were recorded in Kuwait.</p><p>He said the reason for the deaths were not completely answered by Kuwaiti authorities, except to say that the deaths were suicides.</p><p>&quot;If indeed there were suicides, why did the suicides happen?&quot; he said. &quot;It takes a lot to explain why a Filipino would commit suicide, especially overseas.&quot;</p><p>Cacdac also noted that Kuwait is a &quot;special case&quot; given the substantial number of Filipino deaths compared to bigger host countries. </p><p>&quot;Kuwait is a very special and very unfortunate case because for a country that is the size of just an average region of the Philippines, we&#x27;re encountering a great number of cases,&quot; he said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ANCRecap?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ANCRecap</a>: Can the Philippines afford to blacklist labor markets like Kuwait? OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac answers. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeyondPolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeyondPolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/7MtlvVNwhq">pic.twitter.com/7MtlvVNwhq</a></p>— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANCALERTS/status/965918267029114880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2018</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Asked whether the Philippines can afford to blacklist labor markets such as Kuwait, Cacdac said yes and emphasized the need to ensure the social security of Filipino workers overseas.</p><p>&quot;Yes, it&#x27;s in the law that we are authorized to do so and the law is highly protective of workers,&quot; he said.</p><p>The OWWA official also called for bilateral negotiations with Kuwait and an increased presence of Philippine authorities overseas to heighten protection of Filipinos.</p><p>&quot;It (bilateral negotiations) will always be a measure for protecting OFWs... It&#x27;s not a silver bullet or magical wand but it will be a very important big step,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>The Philippine government's deployment ban of workers to Kuwait is the "best way forward" in light of the reported deaths of Filipinos in the Gulf state, a government official said Tuesday.</p>

The Philippine government's deployment ban of workers to Kuwait is the "best way forward" in light of the reported deaths of Filipinos in the Gulf state, a government official said Tuesday.