Vega's Kuwait Mission: Bringing Filipino Workers Together

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega expressed Manila's desire to engage in discussions with the Kuwaiti government about the possibility of sending Filipino workers to Kuwait, Al-Jarida reports.

It follows the recent conviction of a juvenile in Kuwait for allegedly murdering a Filipino domestic worker.

The Philippine Association of Recruitment Agency Secretaries in Kuwait has invited some owners of local recruitment offices to attend a virtual meeting via Zoom on Oct 12 at 3:00 pm, according to Bassam Al-Shimmari, a specialist in domestic workers' affairs. Based on recent moratorium decisions from both countries, this meeting was intended to discuss the possibility that the Philippines could resume sending domestic workers.

In his remarks, Al-Shimmari mentioned that the association had requested President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to resume dialogue between officials from both countries following the invitation. To resolve the ongoing dispute and lift the ban on Filipino workers, a consensus is needed.

As a positive initiative, he urged Kuwaiti authorities to take advantage of this opportunity in both nations' interests, especially given the severe shortage of Filipino domestic workers as a result of the halt in issuing new worker visas.

The agenda for the meeting was anticipated by Al-Shammari as addressing a variety of issues, including the overcrowding of female workers in the embassy, the timely resolution of labor disputes, the restoration of financial rights, and the role of the PAM Labor Shelter Center in containing disputes.

According to him, Filipino domestic workers make up half of Kuwait's total domestic workforce, comprising around 200,000 workers. As a result of their effective communication, education, and understanding of community customs, Filipino domestic workers are valuable to Kuwaiti and expatriate families.

Moreover, local sources revealed Kuwait's persistent concerns regarding certain actions of the Philippine Embassy, particularly its oversight of shelters housing people who violate residency laws or have absconded. The Kuwaiti government considers this oversight a violation of its laws and diplomatic norms. Several sources emphasized Kuwait's position based on defined principles, urging the Philippines to address violations, provide an official pledge from its embassy not to repeat them, and inform the Manila government of this commitment. In the event that the Filipino workers decide to permanently leave Kuwait, Kuwait is also exploring labor alternatives from other countries to replace them.

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