DMW studying possible deployment ban in Kuwait

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is considering banning the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait.

This was due to the recent reported deaths of two OFWs, namely Dafnie Nacalaban and Jenny Alvarado, in the Middle Eastern country.

Nacalaban, who was reported missing by her second employer in October, was later found dead in the residence of a Kuwaiti individual.

Alvarado, on the other hand, reportedly died due to coal smoke inhalation in her place of work along with her Nepalese and Sri Lankan colleagues. A wrong cadaver was initially brought back home to the country, which turned her family’s grief into anger.

With this, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac floated the possibility of a deployment ban in Kuwait.

“At this stage, what I could say is the President is informed about the situation, the cases,” Cacdac said when asked whether the ban would be a total deployment of all types of Filipino workers or if it would only apply to those seeking domestic work.

The DMW chief said the Philippines currently prohibits first-timers in being domestic workers from being deployed to Kuwait.

Cacdac said that the agency is also considering imposing tighter rules and requirements in the deployment of Filipino migrant workers in the Arab country.

“At kung sa pagsusuri natin ay makakatulong ang suspension of deployment ay gagawin din natin ‘yan. Ang isa din kasing sinasaalang-alang natin siyempre meron din kasing mga kababayan natin na ligtas naman ang kanilang employment at pinag-iisipan din natin ‘yung opportunities nung mga kababayan natin with respect to employment nila,” he said.

The Migrant Workers chief said that there are around 215,000 OFWs in Kuwait.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News