Duterte lays out demands for OFW protection in Kuwait

Jessica (C), sister of Filipina worker Joanna Demafelis whose body was found inside a freezer in Kuwait, cries in front of a wooden casket containing her sister’s body shortly after its arrival at the international airport in Manila, Feb. 16, 2018. Photo: Ted Aljibe/ AFP
Jessica (C), sister of Filipina worker Joanna Demafelis whose body was found inside a freezer in Kuwait, cries in front of a wooden casket containing her sister’s body shortly after its arrival at the international airport in Manila, Feb. 16, 2018. Photo: Ted Aljibe/ AFP

While the deployment ban on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait is still in effect, there’s a chance that it could be lifted in the future, on the condition that Kuwait meets demands on better protections for OFWs.

Duterte spoke publicly at the Philippine National Police Academy’s 2018 commencement rites in Silang, Cavite, today where he said he was late because he had to help Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III draft the final output of Manila’s demands to Kuwait.

Duterte earlier banned the deployment of new Filipino workers to Kuwait following the death of domestic helper Joanna Demafelis, who was allegedly tortured and murdered by her employers, who were arrested last month.

Duterte said that in order to lift the ban, he wants demands for better protection of Filipino laborers to be included in a bilateral deal that Manila and Kuwait will sign.

“I demanded that it will be a contract of government to government and that there will be some mandatory provisions like they should be allowed to sleep for seven hours a day, fed nutritious food. We will not allow leftovers to be eaten by our countrymen,” Duterte said.

The president said he will no longer allow the practice of Kuwaiti employers confiscating the passports of Filipino domestic helpers and that workers should be allowed to enjoy holidays.

“I have said that we are not slaves. Maybe our only fault is that we are poor,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Bello said the Philippines will not lift the deployment ban until justice is obtained for Demafelis.

Duterte said last month said he might also impose a deployment ban of Filipino workers to other countries if investigations showed Filipinos were being abused by their employers.

with a report from ABS-CBN News

 



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