The Philippines is eyeing Russia as an alternative destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as the country’s labor row with Kuwait deepens, following the expulsion of Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa in the Gulf country.
It can be remembered that the Department of Foreign Affair issued an apology to the Kuwaiti government for the videos of embassy officials, showing them helping Filipinos flee from allegedly abusive employers in Kuwait.
Despite the Philippines’ efforts to amend its ties with Kuwait, a simmering diplomatic row between the two nations sparked.
On April 28, President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to all Filipinos in Kuwait to come home. He promised that he will spend China’s Php5 billion-help to the last centavo to help repatriate OFWs there.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced a team from his department has started looking into the labor regulations and policies in Russia in preparation for the deployment of Filipino workers there.
The labor secretary said Russia has a huge demand for professionals, house help and construction workers.
Bello has created a technical working group to conduct discussions and meetings with Russian officials leading to the formulation of an agreement for possible deployment to Russia.
The technical working group has been tasked to establish a program of activities for a series of policy consultations between the Philippines and Russia to further discuss policies for the protection and welfare of Filipino workers.
