House minority members support total deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait


By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Members of the minority bloc of the House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed support to President Rodrigo Duterte's order for a total ban of deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Kuwait.
"The stand of minority is we fully support the pronouncement of the President as well as the Administrative Order No. 54 calling for the total ban of deployment [of OFWs] in Kuwait," ACTS OFW party-list Representative John Bertiz said at a press conference.
On Monday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered a total ban in the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait, days after the body of a Filipina domestic worker Joanna Demafelis was found in a freezer in an abandoned apartment unit.
Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said that while Filipinos are the most preferred workers in the world because of they are skilled, hardworking, dedicated and competitive, it is saddening that they become victims of abuses.
"Ang masakit na katotohanan, mababa ang tingin, at malupit ang pagtrato sa karamihan ng ating mga kababayan na OFW," he said.
While they support the total deployment ban, Suarez said this might trigger illegal recruitment of Filipino workers to Kuwait.
"We call on the concerned agencies, such as the DOLE, POEA, DFA, DOJ, NBI and PNP to form a joint task force that would monitor the exit of Filipinos bound for Kuwait, and other possible gateways to Kuwait, conduct surveillance operations, gather intelligence reports with regard to illegal recruitment and deployment activities, and file criminal charges against offenders," he said.
Meanwhile, Bertiz reported about a new development where a "balik-manggagawa" has been allowed.
"Ibig sabihin nito, ito yung mga nagbabakasyon dito na matagal na ring nagtatrabaho sa Kuwait at wala namang problema sa kanilang mga kumpanya," he said.
But this, Bertiz said, will have to undergo a strict screening process.
"In the past, nung nagkaroon tayo ng ban sa ibang bansa, ay ginamit ito ng mga illegal recruiters tulad ng mga nasa Immigrations, mga kawani ng POEA at iba pa rin po diyan, lalong-lalo na yung mga backdoor, yung mga dumadaan ng Sabah, at yung mga tinatawag na third-country deployment of non-Visa," he said.
"Ito yung mga binabantayan natin," he added.
Bertiz said a total of 756 OFWs from Kuwait have been repatriated since the total ban took place. — RSJ, GMA News

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