Philippines enforces total OFW deployment ban to Kuwait
The Philippine government has enforced a total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to Kuwait. According a statement by the Labour Department on January 15, the Overseas Employment Administration has approved the decision in line with the recommendation of the country’s Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello.
The Philippine government mulled a complete ban of sending OFW to Kuwait after the death of household worker Jeanelyn Villavende, who was allegedly killed by her Kuwaiti employers. An autopsy report made by Philippine authorities showed that Villavende was not just tortured, but also sexually abused by her employers in the Gulf state.
But the Kuwaiti government’s earlier autopsy report did not mention signs of rape or past beatings, leading to some Filipino politicians urging the government to summon the ambassador of Kuwait in the Philippines to let him explain why Kuwaiti authorities would give a “fake” autopsy report on the cause of death of Villavende, attempt to protect the culprit from liability and fail to ensure protection for OFWs in their country.
The Overseas Employment Administration earlier this month imposed only a partial deployment ban, which covered newly-hired household service workers.
No confirmation of charges in abuse case from Kuwait
Bello previously said the ban may be lifted if Kuwaiti courts take appropriate action on the Filipina’s case. Authorities in the Gulf state, however, have yet to confirm if Villavende’s Kuwaiti employers have already been charged.
Villavende’s case and a string of other reported abuses of OFWs in Kuwait come amid a labour agreement between the two countries which seeks protection of Filipino workers from abuses.
Under the agreement, employers can no longer confiscate the passports and other travel documents of Filipino workers and they must be allowed to use their phones. The agreement also covers repatriation of distressed OFWs in need of assistance, activation of a 24/7 hotline for them and the creation of a special police unit that would assist the Philippine embassy in rescue operations for OFW.
The Philippine government has enforced a total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to Kuwait. According a statement by the Labour Department on January 15, the Overseas Employment Administration has approved the decision in line with the recommendation of the country’s Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello. The Philippine government mulled a complete ban of sending OFW to Kuwait after the death of household worker Jeanelyn Villavende, who was allegedly killed by her Kuwaiti employers. An autopsy report made by Philippine authorities showed that Villavende was not just tortured, but also sexually abused by her employers in the Gulf...
The Philippine government has enforced a total ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to Kuwait. According a statement by the Labour Department on January 15, the Overseas Employment Administration has approved the decision in line with the recommendation of the country’s Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello.
The Philippine government mulled a complete ban of sending OFW to Kuwait after the death of household worker Jeanelyn Villavende, who was allegedly killed by her Kuwaiti employers. An autopsy report made by Philippine authorities showed that Villavende was not just tortured, but also sexually abused by her employers in the Gulf state.
But the Kuwaiti government’s earlier autopsy report did not mention signs of rape or past beatings, leading to some Filipino politicians urging the government to summon the ambassador of Kuwait in the Philippines to let him explain why Kuwaiti authorities would give a “fake” autopsy report on the cause of death of Villavende, attempt to protect the culprit from liability and fail to ensure protection for OFWs in their country.
The Overseas Employment Administration earlier this month imposed only a partial deployment ban, which covered newly-hired household service workers.
No confirmation of charges in abuse case from Kuwait
Bello previously said the ban may be lifted if Kuwaiti courts take appropriate action on the Filipina’s case. Authorities in the Gulf state, however, have yet to confirm if Villavende’s Kuwaiti employers have already been charged.
Villavende’s case and a string of other reported abuses of OFWs in Kuwait come amid a labour agreement between the two countries which seeks protection of Filipino workers from abuses.
Under the agreement, employers can no longer confiscate the passports and other travel documents of Filipino workers and they must be allowed to use their phones. The agreement also covers repatriation of distressed OFWs in need of assistance, activation of a 24/7 hotline for them and the creation of a special police unit that would assist the Philippine embassy in rescue operations for OFW.
