SEN. Raffy Tulfo yesterday called anew for a ban on the deployment of Filipino workers, especially domestic helpers or kasambahay, to Kuwait after the deaths of two Filipina workers in that Arab country.
During the hearing of the Committee on Migrant Workers which he chairs, Tulfo said he is willing to bring his concern to President Marcos Jr. to bar the deployment of domestic helpers since that sector is the most affected by the abuses of their Kuwaiti employers.
“He (Marcos) knows how to listen when it’s time to listen, our President loves our OFWs. In fact, they are one of those he is focusing on. There should be a total ban except on those who already have a contract then have returned home on leave prior to returning to Kuwait to work with their employer again,” the senator said.
Tulfo said he would “bite the bullet” should government officials be bashed for the decision for a total deployment ban to Kuwait, adding that one death is too many even if that Arab country gives swift justice to OFWs who have been killed or abused by their employers.
“Even if we say each time an OFW is killed that Kuwaiti justice is swift, but it happens very often, it defeats the purpose of our government to protect our OFWs. Sending our OFWs to the lion’s den, there should no longer be cases of anyone being killed. I do not need their swift justice,” Tulfo reiterated.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduard de Vera said: “Just for the record, sir, I agree with your proposal”, saying that it is possible to impose the total deployment ban on domestic helpers.”
Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency will study Tulfo’s proposal and will come up with a position paper in a week’s time.
Tulfo said once the total ban on domestic helpers will be lifted, he will talk to Kuwaiti authorities to lay down policies which will be in favor of the Filipina house helpers.
He added that Kuwaiti employers need to be oriented on Filipino culture so they will better understand their behavior while working. This after information reached him saying that employers usually physically help Filipina house helpers who at times sing and dance to take away stress.
““They are not familiar with Filipino culture. Filipinos are known to be happy people who when facing problems or are stressed, take to singing and dancing, or watch movies online to somehow forget the troubles. They should not be deprived of that happiness that our OFWs are having while they’re there to relieve themselves from stress,” he said.
Cacdac said they are studying a total deployment ban but will limit it only to those who have no work experience abroad, a statement which Tulfo disagrees with, saying that OFWs are not the problem, but Kuwaiti is.
“Very often when a problem arises, we look at it from the angle of our workers being the problem. We, our OFWs are not the problem. The problem is, the government of Kuwait is not doing enough,” Tulfo said.
He added that the DMW should be one with the total deployment ban for new domestic helpers to Kuwait.
Tulfo also urged the Department of Labor and Employment to require companies to hire “retired” OFWs so the latter can have their source of income once they decide not to work abroad anymore.
He said DOLE must require local companies to employ former OFWs above 30 years old.
Tulfo recommendations were made after Dafnie Nacalaban, 35, who was first reported missing, but whose body already in a decomposed state was found buried in her employer’s garden last December 28; and the death of Jenny Alvarado due to coal smoke inhalation when the heating system of their employer’s workplace malfunctioned.
Dr. Simon Gasapo, of the National Bureau of Investigation, said autopsy of Alvarado’s remains showed there were traces of carbon monoxide from her trachea, lungs, and blood, which is consistent to the report of the Kuwait police that she died of asphyxia due to inhalation of carbon monoxide.
Cacdac said they will file a case of negligence against Alvarado’s employer regardless of the findings in the autopsy report.
“They should have taken precautions since Alvarado and her co-workers were made to stay in a room with no proper ventilation. The case will be filed in Kuwait,” Cacdac said.
Several Filipina migrant workers have been killed in Kuwait, among them Jullebee Ranara, whose body was burned and found in the desert in 2023; Joanna Demafelis, who was killed and stuffed in a freezer by her employers in 2018; Constancia Lago Dayag, who died in the hands of her employers in May 2019; and Jeanelyn Villavende, who was killed by her female employer due to jealousy in December 2019.
The Philippine government first signed an agreement with Kuwait in 2018 for the protection of OFWs. It was renewed in 2021.
Among the rights of OFWs in Kuwait as the agreement stipulates include the right to keep their passports and mobile phones, and guaranteed provisions for food, housing, and health insurance by their employers.