Kuwait ‘informally’ okays added protection for OFWS – Bello

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

The Kuwaiti government has “informally accepted” the additional provisions that the Philippines asked to be included in the memorandum of understanding (MOU), Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.

Bello said an official from Kuwait would go to the country to finalize the draft of the MOU.

“Informally pumayag na dun sa mga suggested additional provision for the protection of our workers,” the labor secretary said in an interview with dzMM.

“Ngayon pupunta yung kanilang representative dito para i-finalize na po yung draft ng MOU,” he said.

Included in the provision were the passport and communication issues of the overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)

Bello also said that if any case the OFW would be transferred to another employer by its recruitment agency, a written of consent and approval should be made.

“Kaya meron ding provision na kapag inilipat sa isang employer, dapat may written consent yung ating overseas worker at merong written approval galing sa ating labor attache,” he said.

“Yung recruiter, tiyakin na yung mga provisions na ‘yan ay sinunod ng kanyang employer, at kung hindi, pwede naming isuspende o ikansela ang kanyang lisensya.”

Bello said the agency already canceled 11 licenses of recruitment agencies and 55 more who are under investigation. /cbb