OWWA to ‘stranded’ OFWs: Wait for guidelines before traveling to Kuwait




Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose scheduled deployment to Kuwait was earlier halted by a recent total work ban can travel to the Gulf state as soon as the government's guidelines for it are released.
The guidelines will be issued in line with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier signed by the Philippines and Kuwait that includes provisions about workers' security, food and working hours.
In an in interview on Unang Balita on Friday, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the guidelines will be issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
"Ayon sa nilagdaan ni [Labor] Secretary [Silvestre] Bello, effective immedeately ang kanyang nilagdaan. Mayroon pang guidelines na ii-isyu ang POEA patungkol dito," Cacdac said.
"Antabayanan na lang po natin dahil effective immediately iyong order pero may guidelines. And I think na hindi na magtatagal at magkakaroon na ng guidelines para makaalis na 'yung ating mga kababayan," he added.
Prior to the MOU, a ban on sending Filipino workers to Kuwait was placed in February following the discovery of the body of Joanna Demafelis.
Relations between the Philippines and Kuwait deteriorated further after a video of Philippine diplomatic staff rescuing abused OFWs made its way online, with the Kuwaiti government protesting what it called the diplomatic staff's "inappropriate behavior."
On Friday, Cacdac said Philippine officials in Kuwait will now coordinate with the local police over cases of OFW abuse.
"Iyong ating embahada, Philippine labor office ay pwedeng dumulog doon sa police enforcement team. Iyong police team na isasagawa ng Kuwaiti side. So again cooperation effort ang mahalaga dito," he said.
Some 3,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) whose scheduled deployment to Kuwait was halted by the deployment suspension in January will be the first batch of workers who will be allowed to go back.
Some agencies ensured that there are enough jobs for Filipinos who want to try their luck and work in Kuwait.
Data from the POEA shows that more than 100,000 Filipinos are presently working in Kuwait.
Cacdac assured the public that OFWs being deployed to Kuwait are all documented.
"Hindi naman ganoon kalaking bansa ang kuwait mas amdaling ma-control yung kanilang boarder at mahigpit din kontra sa human trafficking yung kuwaiti immigration border control," he said. — MDM, GMA News

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