Some of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that arrived from Kuwait
MANILA, Philippines — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed another batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that arrived from Kuwait.
Via Philippine Airlines, the 99 Filipino workers touched down the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at past 9 pm, Wednesday.
Their arrival is part of the repatriation program of the government for undocumented and abused OFW which is alongside the amnesty program being implemented by Kuwait until April 22.
OWWA administrator Hans Cacdac said that 4,100 OFWs have already returned to the Philippines from Kuwait and that the agency is expecting more than 2,000 more Filipino workers.
Filipino workers continue to flock to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait due to expired documents and abuse they have suffered from their employers.
“Mga isang libo mahigit sila doon. Nagdagsa dahil sa gusto nga nilang umuwi at mag-avail ng amnestiya. Ang embahada naman at ang DOLE (Department of Labor), OWWA ay nagbigay ng pangalawang accommodation para magkasiya silang lahat,” said the OWWA admin.
(There around 1,000 of them there. They want to go home and avail of the amnesty. The embassy and DOLE are giving second accommodation so they could all go home properly.)
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque maintained that the OFW deployment ban to Kuwait will remain.
But government officials said President Rodrigo Duterte can visit Kuwait if the Gulf state will follow several conditions that seek to provide protection to OFWs working in the Arab country.
Among the minimum conditions set by the Philippine government include the non-confiscation of passports of OFWs, giving of seven hours of rest to Filipino workers, giving them one day-off, allowing them to cook their own food and not abusing them physically or emotionally.
Roque explained that the labor department is taking steps to include the said conditions in the employment contract of workers.
The OFW protection bilateral agreement has yet to be signed by the Philippines and Kuwait. — Darlene Basingan | UNTV News and Rescue
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