Villar asks DOLE to review policy on ‘counterpart agency’ in Kuwait


By ANNA FELICIA BAJO, GMA News
Senator Cynthia Villar on Wednesday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to review the policy where Filipinos who want to work in Kuwait need to pass a Kuwaiti recruitment agency to see if it's beneficial to the workers.
Villar, during the Senate hearing on the death of Joanna Demafelis and the abuses against other Filipinos working abroad, said she had obtained the information regarding the policy from a Norwegian woman living in Kuwait for 39 years.
"Meron daw kayong policy na lahat ng magtratrabaho sa Kuwait... to pass a Kuwaiti local recruiter.  Ito daw ang policy ng DOLE, hindi daw sila puwedeng direct hire sa Philippines, dadaan sila sa isang Kuwaiti local recruiter para makaemploy sila sa Kuwait," Villar said.
"Nilagay niyo 'to para may business doon. Alam daw ito ng embassy... 'yung labor doon. Sinasabi ng Norweigian woman, ito lalong nagpapahirap. Lalong nagkakaloko-loko. Pinapahirapan 'yung domestic helper. Ini-insinuate nila, nagiging business hindi protection," she added.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he has no idea about such policy, but according to Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) administrator Bernard Olalia, a foreign recruitment counterpart agency in Kuwait is needed for "joint and several liability."
"Additional level of protection po kasi ang presence ng foreign agency," Olalia said.
Villar then questioned this. "Bakit lalong naging unprotected? Parang ini-insinuate ng mga taga-Kuwait nilagay niyo 'to para may business doon."
"I'm asking DOLE to review that policy if it's really [giving]  better protection for our domestic helpers or it's just another business for our people in the embassy," the senator added.
Villar underscored that the Senate probe was conducted to review and develop the government's policies on ensuring the safety of OFWs.
"We are having this hearing para magde-develop tayo ng policy based on what we have experienced. I hope we can make the necessary changes sa policy natin," she said. —KBK, GMA News

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