WHILE the OFW Party List joins the many officials in thanking the Kuwaiti government In lifting its year-long ban on the issuance of entry visas and worker visas for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), OFW Party List Rep. Marisa ‘Del Mar’ Magsino pushes for stronger protection for household-service workers in Kuwait.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed the reopening of the deployment of skilled workers in Kuwait. However, for the deployment of household service workers, DMW said Kuwaiti authorities agreed to their proposal to limit the deployment to those with previous work experience.
Magsino said the Filipinos are really diligent and conscientious in their work, and another chance to work in Kuwait will be a boost to the welfare of the workers’ family and the Philippines as well. However, Rep. Magsino said stronger policies on worker protection must be in place before we resume deployment.
“Thank you Kuwaiti government. Big thanks to the DMW, DFA, and hardworking Embassy and MWO officials in Kuwait in making sure that the Filipinos will have available livelihood in Kuwait and will still be part of host country’s development. However, we should also be cautious. Our bilateral labor agreements must have teeth in protecting the rights of our workers. Hindi lang dapat ito isang palamuting papel,” Magsino said.
The OFW Party List previously called for stronger BLAs as the existing ones are lacking explicit provisions relating to social security, equality of treatment, repatriation, and most importantly, on protocols governing the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses committed against OFWs, and on legal remedies available to them and their families for redress of grievance and to secure justice.
“Our bilateral labor agreements envelop the policy support for our OFWs while they are abroad. It must have decisiveness and grit to make sure there is no space for abuses against our OFWs. If there are some abuses, the agreements should provide for serious consequences that would deter foreign employers from committing a similar transgression,” said Magsino.
At the same, Magsino commits the OFW Party List to closely coordinate with DMW and OWWA to help the OFWs have a better understanding of their rights even working abroad.
The OFW Party List last month had a soft launching of the OFW app that will help all Filipino workers abroad.
The OFW app, according to Magsino, will help all the workers connect, ask help, and enjoy the benefits of Philippine agencies will abroad.
