Senator Joel Villanueva has made a strong appeal to government agencies to step up their efforts in enforcing labor agreements with foreign nations to shield overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from abuse and mistreatment. This call to action was made in the wake of potential deployment restrictions to Kuwait following the mysterious deaths of two Filipino workers.
Villanueva pointed out the existing labor pacts with Kuwait, established in 2018 and updated in 2021, which are designed to ensure that OFWs have rights such as keeping their passports and mobile phones, and receiving proper food, accommodation, and health insurance from their employers.
Expressing frustration over the recurring cycle of imposing and lifting bans on OFW deployments, Villanueva stressed the need for a proactive approach. He advocated for tougher recruitment standards and insisted that host countries must adhere to the bilateral agreements that protect the welfare and rights of OFWs.
The senator emphasized that every Filipino worker sent overseas should be assured of safe working environments, decent living conditions, fair wages, and the ability to return home safely with earnings that reflect their hard work and sacrifices.
Villanueva underscored the importance of strictly enforcing these agreements and following international labor standards to prevent the exploitation of migrant workers. He lamented the repeated reports of mistreatment, abuse, and deaths among OFWs, calling these incidents unacceptable and urging an end to such tragedies.