PH sending strong message to Kuwait on OFW protection — POEA

Filipina workers returning home from Kuwait arrive at Manila International Airport on February 18, 2018. AFP

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said on Wednesday that there was an ongoing “high-level” discussion between the Philippine and Kuwaiti governments to tackle issues concerning the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the Gulf State.

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said the Philippine government should send a strong message to its counterpart in Kuwaiti about abuses committed against to Filipinos working in the oil-rich country.

“Yes, there is an ongoing high-level discussion on the bilateral labor agreement,” Olalia said in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel.

The POEA official said the Philippines was asking Kuwait to change certain policies regarding overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) particularly on issues on passport, labor standards, and communication.

This, according to Olalia, would let the Kuwaiti government know that the basic concern of the Philippines is the security and protection of OFWs.

“We have to send a clear message to the Kuwaiti government. We have to tell them that the security and full protection of our (household service workers) are primordial concerns of our government,” Olalia said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“We would like to protect our OFWs while we favor friendly relations with the Kuwaiti government,” he added. /cbb