’Duterte’s immediate whole ban on deployment of OFWs to Kuwait misses the purpose’

The Philippines’ ban “whole ban” on the deployment of their residents to Kuwait misses the purpose, a migrants advocate group mentioned, even because the transfer has stirred up concern amongst OFWs within the oil-rich nation.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to ban the deployment of Filipinos to Kuwait kicked off on Monday, February 12, blocking the journey of some 300 Filipino employees flying every day to the Gulf nation.

Many Filipinos hailed the ban as an indication of Duterte’s “sturdy management”, whereas others riled towards the transfer as mere “grandstanding”.

The ban hogged the headlines and got here days after the horrific discovery of a Filipina housemaid’s physique in a freezer inside an deserted house in Hawalli, outdoors Kuwait Metropolis.

Nevertheless, even Filipino diplomats admit that the overwhelming majority of Filipinos in Kuwait are doing effective and are wanted by employers.

And regardless of Duterte’s risk of a ban final week, quite a few jobs are nonetheless on supply in Kuwait particularly in search of Filipinos.

Why the GCC wouldn’t be the identical with out Filipinos

A member of the “Pilipino sa Kuwait” (PSK) Fb group posted an pressing message: “Required for a Lebanese household a nanny/helper from 7am until 7:30pm most well-liked Philippino (sic) with expertise to begin instantly. Salmiya block four. Slaray 150KD. Please name …. If anybody can help! Thanks.”

On Monday, the ban stirred up panic amongst Kuwait-based Filipino employees in addition to their family again residence.

PSK member Jhonas Villarba has posted a message on the identical group asking for assist for his spouse Lovelyn, who works as a housemaid.

Different Filipinos used the group to rile towards Philippine embassy workers, particularly about dropped calls.

A screenshot of messages posted on the Pilipino sa Kuwait group. — Fb

Barbie, a member of the PSK, wrote in text-speak in Tagalog: “You name the Philippines embassy 10 instances, nobody picks up the cellphone. That’s why many people die right here. Emergency calls are by no means answered. That’s why those that run away from their employers find yourself on the streets, fall into the flawed palms… to males. No alternative as a result of nobody helps.”

Whole or partial ban?

The language used — “whole ban” — been extensively reported by Philippine media, has additionally created an issue.

Caught offguard are the quite a few Kuwait-based OFWs taking a vacation within the Philippines unsure concerning the implications of the declaration.

Till late Monday, it was not clear if the ban covers vacationing expert Filipino employees, too.

If a “whole ban” is utilized, as an alternative of a partial one masking solely a selected group of individuals comparable to housemaids, Duterte might doubtlessly face a large backlask from expert OFWs and their households whose livelihood can be scuttled.

Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa, in an interview on Monday, mentioned: “From what I perceive, ‘whole ban’ is like Alert Degree four — primarily based on our system of alert ranges. Beneath this stage, it means even those that are spending their annual trip within the Philippines will now not be allowed to return to their worksite, wherever that’s.”

Villa mentioned: “The one factor we will do now’s to hunt clarification from our Division of Labor and Employment and allow them to know the considerations, particularly of our expert employees (in Kuwait).”

But when solely a partial ban is imposed, as an alternative of a complete one, it will expose Duterte’s shooting-from-the-hip mood in coping with such a fragile difficulty.

Pacquiao joins the fray

In the meantime, prime politicians together with boxer Manny Pacquio, a member of the Philippine Senate, pounced on the frozen physique story.

Pacquiao was quoted by Manila’s GMA TV community as saying he will probably be happy if the loss of life penalty is imposed on the abusive Kuwaiti employers.

...[ Continue to next page ]