Senator Raffy Tulfo has called for a ban on deploying Filipino household workers to Kuwait, following the tragic deaths of two Filipinos in the country. This proposal was made during a Senate Committee on Migrant Workers session, where Tulfo pressed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to advise President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to implement the ban. Tulfo highlighted the President’s commitment to the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), yet stressed that mere swift justice for these incidents is not enough. He argued that such tragedies should not occur at all, emphasizing the need for preventive measures over reactive ones. The proposed ban would not affect workers with existing contracts who are returning to Kuwait. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega cautiously supported the ban, suggesting it could be used as leverage to negotiate better protections for Filipino workers. He referenced Indonesia’s similar ban in the Middle East as a precedent. However, De Vega also warned of potential diplomatic tensions, recalling the fallout from a temporary ban in 2023 after the murder of OFW Jullebee Ranara. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac expressed openness to the proposal but requested a week to evaluate its practicality. The Senate hearing shed light on the plight of the approximately 268,000 OFWs in Kuwait, many of whom are domestic workers. Despite a 2018 labor agreement, Kuwait has been hesitant to enhance worker protections, prompting Tulfo to insist on the ban to safeguard OFWs from further harm.
Senator Urges Ban on Sending Filipino Domestic Workers to Kuwait Amid Rising Concerns
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