Skilled workers appeal to DOLE: Let us work in Kuwait




Skilled workers met with labor officials on Tuesday to appeal for exemption from the total deployment ban to Kuwait.
According to the workers, the coverage of Administrative Order No. 54 or the order banning the deployment of first-time OFWs to Kuwait, should be limited only to household service workers who are the most vulnerable to abuse.
While sympathetic to Demafelis, the skilled workers said there is low chance of them getting abused like domestic workers in Kuwait.
The Coalition of Licensed Agencies for Domestic and Service Workers (CLADS) said about 10,000 Kuwait-bound skilled workers were affected by the deployment ban.
"Kilala nila 'yung mga pupuntahan nila. Ina-asure nila na yung welfare nila ay meron at protection," CLADS President Lucy Sermonia said.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the deployment ban two weeks ago following the discovery of the body of Joanna Demafelis, a Filipina domestic helper, inside a freezer in an unoccupied apartment unit in Kuwait.
Exceptions to AO 54 include Balik Manggagawa or OFWs "vacationing in the Philippines and will be returning to the same employer to finish their contacts, at the end of his/her vacation; and OFWs who are returning to Kuwait on a new contract with the same employer."
Seafarers who will transit through or board in Kuwait to join their principals are also exempted.
The skilled workers told officials that they had resorted to selling their properties and belongings to make ends meet after they were barred from leaving for the Gulf state.
Most of the workers had visas that were nearing their expiration date or had employers waiting for them.
“Dahil sa ban na ito, paano naman ang buhay ko? Now I’m selling my property," Nona Lacson Dulutan said. “Nilakasan ko lang po ang loob ko.”
Michael Fronda worked as a movement officer at an airline and was about to return to Kuwait after switching employers when the ban was put into effect.
“Ang parents ko magastos sa maintenance," he said. "Ako nagpapaaral sa kapatid ko, nagbibigay din ako ng pang-kabuhayan, so hindi ko alam kung paano ako mabubuhay, kundi dahil sa Kuwait. Second 'yung depression. Hindi lang ako.”
Despite their pleas, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) officials remained firm that they will maintain the ban until all Filipino workers in Kuwait are assured of protection.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III asked for patience as they wait for the Kuwait government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding that will give extra protection to Filipino workers of all pay grades.
"It’s not easy to be sending you there and I’m not sure of your security, I’m not sure that you will be safe there," Bello said. "You are my responsibility.”
One of the provisions under the MOU forbids employers from holding the passport of their Filipino employees.
Though the signing of the MOU will not guarantee the removal of the ban, it may pave the way for smoother labor relations between Kuwait and the Philippines.
Bello said the details of the MOU will be ironed out in two to three weeks
"Ilang linggo, dalawang linggo na lang, pipilitin naming magkakaroon mg MOU para sa ganun matiyak natin ang kaligtasan," he said. —JP Soriano and Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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