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[av_heading heading=’Manila to push for bilateral deal on workers in Kuwait ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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February 18, 2018
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MANILA – The Kuwaiti government made assurances on the protection of Filipino workers in that country but the Philippines believes this will not cut it, insisting that a bilateral agreement is necessary.
“There is need for a bilateral agreement,” Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said but acknowledged that any agreement “is good if implemented.”
“We want to be more practical sa hinihi ng isa kanila so continuous ang discussion,” he said. “On our level, [among] ambassadors, we want to build trust.”
The Philippines banned the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Kuwait after a domestic worker from Iloilo province was found dead in a freezer there last week and amid widespread reports of abuse and violence against the workers.
In the case of Joanna Demafelis, the OFW found dead in a freezer, “they went all out in expressing outrage against perpetrators,” Cayetano said of his meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Ahmad Alhwaikh.
Many OFWs in Kuwait are underpaid or would experience delay in their salaries. Worse, some are not paid at all, the Foreign Affairs secretary said.
Cayetano said the ambassador acknowledged “that the salary of workers agreed on contract must be strictly adhered to.”
The Foreign Affairs department has recorded complaints about prolonged working hours and shortened rest hours; transfer of household worker from one employer to another or from one agency to another; and bringing of household workers to another country, particularly Saudi Arabia, by employers without the workers’ consent. (PNA)
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