Philippine Lawmaker Advocates for Diplomatic Solutions Over Kuwait Deployment Ban

In the wake of the tragic deaths of two Filipino workers in Kuwait, a Philippine lawmaker has called for a more diplomatic approach rather than an immediate ban on worker deployment. Kabayan Party-list Representative Ron Salo expressed concerns that a ban could negatively impact the livelihoods of over 200,000 Filipinos currently working in Kuwait. Salo emphasized the need for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to consider alternative strategies that would not jeopardize the welfare of these overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). He suggested enhancing worker skills, improving monitoring and support systems, and enforcing stricter regulations and existing labor agreements. Salo also stressed the importance of holding accountable those responsible for the deaths of Dafnie Nacalaban and Jenny Alvarado, urging cooperation between the DMW, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Kuwaiti authorities to ensure justice. He highlighted past instances where deployment bans led to unintended consequences, such as workers overstaying with their employers or moving to unverified new employers, using Nacalaban’s case as a poignant example. Salo argued that crimes by private individuals should not automatically lead to deployment bans unless there is a clear violation of bilateral agreements by the host country.