DMW: Partial deployment ban to Kuwait may affect 47,000 OFWs

Department of Migrant Workers and overseas Filipino workers. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Thursday that 47,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may be affected by the partial ban on deployment to Kuwait.

DMW Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said that around 47,000 OFWs went to Kuwait in 2022 and the same number of workers are expected to be affected by the targeted ban.

The DMW has temporarily stopped processing applications of first-time Filipino domestic helpers bound for Kuwait, following the gruesome murder of Jullebee Ranara, the OFW who was reportedly killed by the son of her Kuwaiti employer.

“Nakikita natin na around that, around that same figure ang potentially na sa loob ng isang taon ang maaapektuhan,” he said in a public briefing.

(We can see that around the same number of OFWs may be affected by the ban in one year.)

Cacdac said the temporary suspension was put in place to ensure that OFWs in the middle eastern country would have stronger protection against abuse.

The DMW only banned the deployment of first-time domestic helpers since they are more vulnerable to abuse and would have more difficulty in adjusting to the environment.

“Nakikita natin na sila ang pinaka-vulnerable o potential na mahirapan sa adjustment pagdating sa Kuwait kaya pinagkaka-ingatan natin ang kapakanan nila,” Cacdac said.

(We see that they are the most vulnerable or have the potential to have difficulty in adjustment when they arrive in Kuwait, so we are taking care of their well-being.)

“Hindi muna natin sila papayagan pumunta sa Kuwait, hangga’t mayroong tayong kasiguraduhan sa maigting pa na proteksyon, mas pinagtitibay pa na mga probisyon ng standard employment contract,” he added.

(We are not allowing them to go there for now until we have the assurance of even tighter protections, more robust provisions of the standard employment contract.)

Apart from this, the DMW will also conduct more information and orientation campaigns or seminars, not only for OFWs but also to employers in Kuwait.

This is to orient both OFWs and employers of the culture and traits of each other so that future misunderstandings can be avoided, Cacdac said.

The DMW official likewise said the governments of Philippines and Kuwait are looking into the possibility of having a partnership or cooperation in terms of monitoring the welfare of Filipino domestic helpers in Kuwait.

“Kasama ito bilang bahagi ng mga repormang inaasahan natin bago natin ma-lift itong deferment ng pagpapadala ng first-time OFWs sa Kuwait,” he said.

(This is part of the reforms that we expect before we lift this deferment on deployment of first-time OFWs to Kuwait.)

KGA