PH partially lifts deployment ban to Kuwait; household workers still covered

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has partially lifted the deployment ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

However, Bello said new and returning household workers will still be covered by the ban.

In January, the Philippines imposed a total deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait over the alleged attempt of the Kuwaiti government to cover up the true cause of the death of Filipina domestic worker Jeanelyn Villavende, after the autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on her remains indicated that she was physically and sexually abused.

On the other hand, Bello said new and returning skilled, semi-skilled workers and professionals are now exempted from the deployment ban.

“So yun pwede na silang ma-deploy muli (They can be deployed again),” he told reporters in an interview.

Bello said the labor department partially lifted the ban after the Kuwaiti government finally agreed on a harmonized contract of employment for OFWs.

“Finally the proposed harmonized contract of employment was agreed upon by the Kuwaiti government. This is a measure would provide effective and sufficient protection to our overseas workers,” the labor chief said.

“The harmonized contract of employment contains all the provisions that our President wanted included,” he added.

Bello said the partial lifting of the ban will be effective immediately.