MANILA The Department of Migrant Workers will implement stricter measures in order to protect overseas Filipino workers who are to be deployed to Kuwait.
In a press release issued Wednesday, Hans Leo Cacdac, Secretary for Migrant Workers, said that they would also intensify their monitoring of OFWs’ conditions in the Gulf State, as agreed by both Manila, and Kuwait.
“The said measures include the implementation of a system for the Blacklist and Whitelist of Recruitment Agencies and employers that will participate in the resumption of deployment, the provision of salaries of OFWs through electronic payment to ensure timely payment of wages, and the appointment of welfare officers to monitor, report, and assist OFWs in the whole-cycle of their labor migration,” Cacdac said.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the DMW head said Kuwait would relax restrictions on the issuance entry and work visas for Filipinos that have been in place since May last year.
Cacdac stated that this is the outcome of the meeting held on June 23 between DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia and Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Jose Cabrera III. DMW Labor Attachee Manuel Dimaano represented the Philippines. Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Yusef Sabah Al-Sabah, First Deputy Minister for Defense and Interior Minister, was also present.
The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Public Authority for Manpower.
The DMW chief stated that the lifting of the ban on deployment would allow Filipino workers, both professional and semi-skilled, to work in Kuwait.
Domestic workers must have experience working abroad before they are sent to Kuwait.
To ensure OFW protection further, the Philippines and Kuwait agreed to create a joint technical committee that would meet periodically to resolve labor issues and other concerns.
“The resolution is an expression of the friendship and the cordial relationship between the two countries, which was established by none other than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Kuwaiti Crown Prince, and now the Emir Sheikh Meshal in October 2023. The previous negotiations and meetings also played a role in the resolution. Nagpapasalamat to the Kuwaiti side for its openness and for the magandang pagusap. We thank the Kuwaiti team for their openness, and for the good conversations,” Cacdac said.
Source DMW
