MANILA: Doubts over the future of more than 260,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait eased after Philippine officials announced a breakthrough in efforts to normalize relations between the Southeast Asian nation and the Gulf state.
The announcement was made late on Wednesday night by Philippines Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque.
The breakthrough came after separate meetings with Kuwait’s Interior Minister Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah; Social Affairs and Labor Minister Hind Sabeeh Barak Al-Sabeeh and Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries have been strained since April after videos emerged showing Philippine Embassy staff “rescuing” allegedly distressed Filipino domestic workers from their employers’ households in the Arab nation.
The embassy’s “rescue” operations angered the Kuwaiti government, which expelled Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and recalled their own ambassador to Manila, despite an apology by Foreign Affairs Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano.
Since then, the Duterte administration had been scrambling to prevent a total breakdown in diplomatic ties between the two countries, with the fate of thousands of Filipino workers in the Gulf state in jeopardy.
Speaking from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait on Wednesday, Roque said: “The Philippines and Kuwait look forward to the normalization of ties.
“Kuwait has expressed the value of Filipinos in Kuwait.”
Roque and Bello said an agreement to protect the welfare of Filipino workers in Kuwait would be signed on Friday.
The spokesman said that a special Kuwaiti police unit would liaise with Philippine authorities over complaints of abuse by Filipino workers and a 24-hour hotline would be provided to allow workers to call for assistance.
Roque said the minister had assured Filipinos in Kuwait that prosecutions would be launched against employers who abused domestic workers.
Bello said the agreement would include provisions demanded by Duterte, including seven hours of sleep for workers, an eight-hour working day and one day off every week with pay. Workers will also be allowed to keep their passports and mobile phones.
The meetings between Kuwait and Philippine officials also brought the release of the four drivers used in the rescue operations. Kuwaiti officials also promised that all remaining undocumented Filipinos — thought to number about 500 — will be allowed to go home. At least 150 will join Philippine officials when they return to Manila on Friday.
Meanwhile, Congressman Ciriaco Calalang, of Kabayan Party-list, applauded the “good news coming out from Kuwait,” but said politicians who had no part in the talks and “only wish to hog the limelight for photo opportunity purposes” should stay away from the signing on Friday.
