OFW in Kuwait in hospital after jumping from building to escape employer --- By GMA Integrated News

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait sustained injuries after jumping from a building while trying to escape her alleged abusive employer. advertisement Victim Myla Balbag jumped from the third floor of her female employer’s house after she was allegedly beaten for watching TikTok videos on her phone, according to Raffy Tima ’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday. Balbag sustained broken legs and a possible spine injury, the report said. She is currently being treated at the Jaber Al Ahmad Sabah Hospital. “Binabantayan na siya taga DMW-OWWA [Department of Migrant Workers-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration], kasama niya, hanggang siya ay ready na para sa therapy then pag naisyuhan na siya ng clearance na fit to fly, iuwi na natin siya,” said OWWA Administrator Arnel Ignacio. (Members of the DMW-OWWA are watching over her. They will be with her until she is ready for therapy and will be issued clearance that states she is fit to fly. And then we will repatriate her.) Due to the incident, Senator Raffy Tulfo renewed his call for the government to issue a deployment ban on Filipino workers in Kuwait. Tulfo also filed a resolution to review the current bilateral agreement and standard employment contracts for OFWs in the said country. Accounts of OFWs being abused in Kuwait have been reported in recent years. Last week, the DMW condoled the family of Filipina household worker Jullebee Ranara whose burned body was found in a desert. Ignacio said the DMW will look into the other areas where similar incidents are being reported and will study how the issue will be addressed. “Magpapadala tayo doon ng isang team na mag-aanalisa, bakit nga ba ganito no, area per area lalagyan natin ng demographics kung ano ba yung medyo notorious na lugar so yun ang gagawin nila, isusubmit nila dito for further studies,” he said. (We will send a team to analyze why it is happening. We will deploy per area to know the demographics and to learn what other areas have similar incidents. They will submit it for further studies.) He also said the OWWA expanded its 1348 help lines for OFWs by extending its operations to 24 hours. “Based on experience…ang unang-una kailangan may mag-hello, ‘yun muna e and then that should start the process of solving your problem,” Ignacio said.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News

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