The Commission on Human Rights agreed with the government’s decision to ban deployment to Kuwait to protect and ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Saturday.
According to Malacanang, there have been seven cases of death of OFWs in Kuwait which urged the government to impose a deployment ban to the said Gulf state.
“Migrant workers’ rights are human rights and we all share an obligation to make sure that our OFWs are treated well and fairly around the world,” said Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Gana as reported by ABS-CBN.
Gana, who is also CHR’s point person for migrant workers’ rights, said that the agency will support the government in promoting “stronger protection and enhanced welfare mechanisms for our overseas Filipino workers especially those most prone to abuse and exploitation.”
President Duterte first mentioned the deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait during the launch of the Overseas Filipino Bank in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila.
Following his announcement on the said launch, the Department of Labor and Employment suspended the processing of application and deployment of OFWs to Kuwait.
President Duterte also said that if one more case of rape or abuse would be reported, he would repatriate all Filipino migrant workers and impose a total deployment ban.
“One more incident about a woman, a Filipina being raped there, I’m going to stop, I’m going to ban.
