Palace rejects freeze on OFW deployment to Kuwait despite reported abuses

The Philippine government is not keen on declaring a moratorium on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait despite reported cases of maltreatment of Filipino women, a Palace spokesperson said Sunday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Middle East are both working to ensure that the rights of OFWs are protected.

"Handa po ang pamahalaan na bigyan ng kinauukulang tulong ang sinomang Pilipino na mangailangan ng ayuda ng pamahalaan," he said.

The Blas F. Ople Policy Center earlier called on the government to invoke its bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait and study the implementation of additional safeguards for Filipino women workers, otherwise a moratorium on deployment should be considered.

"Sa kasalukuyan, walang ano mang panukala ang DFA o ang DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] hinggil sa pagpapatigil ng pagpapadala ng mga manggagawa sa Kuwait," Coloma said.  

Coloma also said that the government continues to strengthen its mechanisms against human trafficking and illegal recruitment, as well as other issues with regards to the welfare of OFWs.

A Filipina was recently beaten up, abducted and raped by at least three people in Kuwait, a Kuwait news site reported late Tuesday.

Citing a security source, Kuwait Times said the Filipina told police she was abducted in Farwaniya and raped in Jahra.  Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/BM, GMA News

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