80 distressed OFWs from Kuwait repatriated

(Image from the Facebook post of Philippine Embassy in Kuwait)

MANILA, Philippines — Eighty distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait have arrived in Manila on Friday, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

In a statement, the OWWA said the fourth batch of distressed OFWs from the Middle Eastern country arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at around 5:40 in the morning.

The agency noted that its repatriation team had welcomed the returning OFWs upon their arrival.

“Bukod sa pagkain at inumin, nakatanggap din ng financial assistance ang bawat isa sa kanila,” OWWA said.

(Aside from food and drinks, each of them also received financial assistance.)

A Department of Migrant Workers team earlier visited Kuwait to check on the living conditions of distressed OFWs in the country’s government-run facilities.

They also arranged the immediate repatriation of distressed OFWs staying in the Migrant Workers Office in Kuwait.

The fifth batch of OFWs from Kuwait is expected to arrive in the country in the next few days.

Several lawmakers from the House of Representatives pushed for a probe into the Philippine government’s efforts to protect OFWs in Kuwait, citing reports that more than 400 distressed OFWs are “stranded and cramped” in government-run shelters in and the brutal murder of Kuwait-based Filipina household service worker Jullebee Ranara.

—with reports from Niña Cuasay, INQUIRER.net trainee

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