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Duterte to Kuwait: ‘We’re okay now that my conditions are met’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday thanked the Kuwaiti government for granting the demands of the Philippine government for the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.

“Frankly, I would like to thank especially the Kuwait government for giving us these conditions with a better place for our OFWs,” Duterte said in his speech during the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Navy at the Coconut Palace, CCP Complex.

In the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalih Al Hamad Al Sabah on May 12, Kuwait promised to ensure that OFWs will be provided food, housing, clothing and health insurance coverage.

Under the agreement, the employer is also prohibited to confiscate OFWs’ passports and other personal identification, including cellphones and other means of communication.

The OFWs are also allowed to open their bank accounts so that they will be able to remit their salaries back home as provided for in the employment contract.

Duterte said the Kuwaiti government has also agreed to allow OFWs to have one day off each week, at least seven hours of sleep a day an not to tolerate physical abuse.

“We’re okay now with Kuwait. My conditions were met. The Kuwaiti government has shown courage in meeting our challenge,” Duterte said.

 

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