The Department of Labor and Employment may temporarily suspend the deployment of Filipino household workers in Kuwait.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the planned suspension was meant to stop the rising abuses experienced by overseas Filipino workers, particularly female household workers.
“We are taking this call for a moratorium seriously. We will conduct consultations with our partners and other government agencies,” Bello said.
The labor chief is in Kuwait to check on another Filipino on death row, Elpidio Lano, who was meted the death sentence by the Kuwait Court of First Instance for killing a fellow Filipino, Nilo Macaranas, on June 17, 2014.
“We will make a decision on the proposed moratorium soon,” Bello said, adding there is an urgent need to curb unfortunate incidents befalling Filipino workers.
“Our OFWs leave the country with the promise of a better life for their families, unfortunately they are confronted with their worst nightmare in these countries,” he said.
Bello directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to fast-track the documents needed by the family of Jakatia Pawa, who was recently executed in Kuwait, for them to visit her grave in the Middle Eastern country.
“We will give them all the assistance they need, if and when the family decides to go to Kuwait,” Bello said, as Pawa’s family has yet to decide on leaving.
“We are just waiting for their reply on when they want to fly to Kuwait and to see the body of the executed household worker,” he said.
Bello has also instructed OWWA to expedite the financial and livelihood assistance to the Pawa family.