MANILA – The Philippines is no longer sending Filipino workers to Kuwait, President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Sunday.
“The ban stays permanently. There will be no more recruitment for – especially domestic helpers. Wala na,” Duterte said upon arrival in Davao City after attending the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Singapore.
The President was responding to a question related to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the protection of Filipino workers in Kuwait.
On April 23 Duterte met with Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh in Davao City, where the former committed “to protect and ensure the welfare of our more than 250,000 kababayans” in the gulf state.
The meeting transpired a few days after a “rescue mission” for abused Filipino workers in Kuwait, which prompted Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa.
Meanwhile Duterte appealed to Filipinos working in Kuwait to “come home.”
“For Filipino professionals who may wish to stay in Kuwait, there is really no problem, but at the same time, I would like them to cherish and nurture patriotism,” said the President.
“You can stay there. For Filipino household service workers, if your Kuwaiti employers want you to leave, then please come home,” he added.
Duterte appealed to Kuwaiti employers to “treat Filipinos with the humanity they deserve” and “not abuse Filipino workers.”
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian pushed for a “concrete action” from the Kuwaiti government to address the plight of Filipino workers there.
“The signing of the MOU should be a good first step in achieving this goal,” Gatchalian said. “Our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) do not deserve to be treated like slaves.”/PN
