Duterte orders work ban for Kuwait – Ban does not affect workers already here

Marafie added if such crimes are discovered or if any Filipino filed a complaint, the security authorities investigate the complaints and refer these complaints to courts. Marafie added the Interior Ministry is monitoring all offices of domestic workers and those which are found to be in violation of the law are immediately shut down.

Marafie wondered if the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait saw any shortcomings on the part of the security authorities to look into complaints filed by the Filipino community in Kuwait, especially the police stations, the Domestic Labor Department, the Criminal Investigation Department or other security departments of the Interior Ministry. He added all the security agencies are doing their job to protect all communities in Kuwait, including the Filipinos.

He pointed out security services are accurate monitoring everything in the country. Any complaints related to domestic employment are referred to the courts, especially those filed by the Philippine Embassy and these complaints are being looked into with utmost care without negligence or failure on part of the authorities. He stressed all complaints filed by the Philippines Embassy or the domestic workers themselves are referred to the concerned authorities and are tackled according to the law of the land either through settlement out of court or through the Kuwaiti judiciary.

Marafie went on to say the problems and crimes, if any, are a small percentage for the Filipino community. He pointed out such occurrences — crimes of such nature happen all over the world without exception. Meanwhile, the head of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, Dr Adel Al-Damkhi, said both the Committee and the National Assembly give special importance to human rights issues in the country. He added, specific or individual cases should not be generalized because Kuwait is a land of law. MP Saleh Ashour said he had earlier warned on taking the Philippine President’s statement seriously when he had on earlier occasion threatened to stop domestic labor to Kuwait. Ashour stressed any decision taken by the Philippines President will inevitably lead to rise in prices of labor recruitment to KD 2,000 and increase the burden on the citizens. Ashour asked: “Where is Al-Dura Company, whose establishment was approved to bring domestic labor from abroad?” The Al-Rai daily quoted Ashour as saying, “Most countries have decided not to send domestic workers to Kuwait including Indonesia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and India.”