KUWAIT CITY, July 20 – In a noteworthy development, approximately 700 Filipino men and women from the community have been deported back to their home country within three months. An average of about seven deportations per day. Interestingly, these deportations were carried out with two distinct funding approaches, either at the personal expense of the individuals themselves or with support from the Philippines Embassy. Thereby relieving the sponsors from the burden of covering the cost of airline tickets
Sources within the security establishment have disclosed a significant decline in the number of Filipino workers attempting to escape, particularly following the closure of their country’s embassy shelter. In the past, many workers resorted to illegal means, which flagrantly violated the laws of the host country.
This trend emerged in the aftermath of the arrest of 500 Filipino workers who had sought refuge in the embassy’s shelter. These workers were subsequently deported back to their home country through the General Department of Deportation. Additionally, around 130 individuals faced detainment in a government shelter center due to various travel restrictions linked to pending court complaints. Such complaints ranged from allegations of theft in sponsors’ houses to ongoing financial cases against the workers. These individuals were repatriated to their home country through the General Department of Deportation.
Based on credible sources, the Ministry of Interior currently detains Filipinos at the PAM shelter due to various registered cases, including criminal offenses, misdemeanors, and labor disputes. They plan to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and PAM to facilitate deportation proceedings. The Ministry has taken measures to ensure the well-being of Filipino laborers by providing healthcare and logistical support in adherence to international agreements and humanitarian principles. The shelter offered refuge to workers who had violated local laws.
Now, over three months, the total number of Filipino community members deported reached approximately 700. Notably, sponsors were not charged for their airline tickets, which could potentially cost between 250 and 350 dinars, as reported by Al Rai. This decision was taken by the Ministry of Interior to address the issue of sponsor injustice, given that numerous workers had fled before fulfilling the terms of their employment contracts. Consequently, the Ministry established a new policy wherein runaway workers are responsible for bearing the cost of their travel tickets, and the embassy may collect the ticket value from them. Failure to comply with this regulation could result in the violators remaining in deportation prison.
The Ministry of Interior implemented this measure to avoid placing unnecessary financial strain on sponsors. Several workers had run away without completing their employment contracts, leaving sponsors responsible for covering the expenses of their tickets.
In summary, the recent wave of deportations from Kuwait has significantly impacted the Filipino community, with the process being funded either by the individuals themselves or through support from the Philippines Embassy. These measures were put in place to discourage workers from absconding and to address sponsor grievances arising from premature contract termination
