A team of senior Filipino officials have arrived in Kuwait to meet with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and Kuwaiti government authorities to address concerns on amnesty program, deployment ban, and other OFW-related issues.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) undersecretary for migrant workers affairs Sarah Lou Arriola, alongside members of the rapid response team of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, were welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa, consul-general Noordin Pendosina Lomondot, consul Jabbar Adiong, vice-consul Charleson Hermosura and other officials, reported ABS-CBN.
“We are here to be with our kababayans para kumustahin sila and to ensure that the repatriation efforts are conducted compassionately and courageously,” Arriola said.
The team is set to meet with the Filipino community on Friday to know their current situation in the country amid the deployment ban imposed in the country. The officials will also meet with more than 1,000 distressed OFWs to ensure the help they need are being provided.
The Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) recently transferred more than 300 OFWs from POLO-OWWA shelter in Al Siddique area due to raising number of distressed workers seeking shelter from the agency, which later caused congestion.
The undersecretary will also meet with some officials at the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss other OFW-related issues including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and Kuwait.
Philippine ambassador to Kuwait Villa added there will be another series of conversation on the MOU by next month or before the Holy Month of Ramadan to finalize the provisions of the agreement.
The MOU was drafted following the death of OFW Joanna Demafelis whose body was discovered stuffed inside an abandoned apartment in Kuwait.
Among the actions done by the Philippine government in response to the tragedy was the imposition of deployment ban of first-time OFWs to the Gulf state and the amnesty program where undocumented OFWs will be allowed to go home without fine.
Lomondot, head of the Philippine Embassy assistance to nationals unit, encouraged undocumented OFWs to file their amnesty application at the embassy on or before April 12.
The official said that despite the April 22 deadline, OFWs should give the embassy enough time to process their documents including travel and exit clearances.
Since the amnesty program, more than 4,000
undocumented OFWs have been repatriated to the Philippines.
NOTE: Photo featured was taken from ABS-CBN News’ Twitter account.
