DMW issues policy on deployment of first-time workers

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced a policy on first-time workers who plan to work in Kuwait after the ban on the entry of overseas Filipino workers was lifted.

“Nagpapasyahan sa pagpupulong na yun, una, buksan muli ang hiring ng first-time skilled workers sa Kuwait. Pangalawa, sa domestic workers, papayagan yung mga may work experience. Hindi natin papayagan yung first-timers sa abroad,” said DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Tuesday, sharing about the official trip of Undersecretary Bernard Olalia to Kuwait. 

(It was discussed during the meeting, first, the lifting of the hiring ban on first-time skilled workers in Kuwait. Second, we would allow the deployment of domestic helpers with work experience. We would not deploy first-timers.) 

The DMW chief added that the latest policy is expected to take place in the middle of July.

Kuwait suspended the issuance of visas to Filipino workers in May last year after the murder of domestic worker Jullebee Ranara, prompting Manila to stop sending first-time workers to the middle eastern country. 

When it comes to skilled workers, the DMW said that Kuwait is looking for workers in the sectors of construction, hospitality, retail, healthcare, education, among others. 

The DMW assured that there were also safeguards in place by the Philippine government. 

“Katulad ng pagkakaroon ng mga whitelist at blacklist ng mga recruitment agencies, pagkakaroon ng welfare officers sa mga recruitment agencies na tutulong sa mga OFWs nilang nirecruit na nagkakaproblema, and then yung electronic means nung pagtanggap ng sahod, pag-collect ng sahod,” said Cacdac.

(Among them is having a whitelist and blacklist of recruitment agencies, having welfare officers within recruitment agencies to help OFWs, and having the electronic means in receiving and collecting salaries.) 

He added that the Philippines would also request Kuwait to allow domestic helpers to transfer to other employers safely. 

“Kaya ang isang dahilan na dapat may karanasan na sa paga-abroad yung magiging domestic helper sa Kuwait ay para bihasa siya sa mga ganitong sitwasyon,” said Cacdac. “Kung halimbawa kailangan niyang lumipat, magkakaroon ng sistema, proseso. Ipapakiusap natin sa Kuwaiti side na hindi siya nakapirmi o nakatali sa isang employer lamang kahit na sapilitan na yung paglilingkod niya sa employer na yun.” 

(That’s why we prefer deploying those who have experience working abroad because they know how to handle these situations. If one needs to move to another employer, there would be a system or process. We will request from the Kuwaiti side that a domestic worker should not be  required to be bound with only one employer.)  — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News