ShareBy Khaled Al-Abdulhadi
KUWAIT: The Philippines Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has temporarily suspended the deployment of first-time applicants for jobs in Kuwait amid ongoing discussions to ensure the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) following the brutal death of domestic worker Jullebee Ranara last month. The decision, effective as of Wednesday, Feb 8, only covers contracts of Kuwait-bound first-time domestic workers.
"The applications of first-time migrant workers, specifically for household services in Kuwait, shall be deferred until after significant reforms have been made and more safeguards are in place for their protection and welfare," DMW Secretary Susan Ople said. Ople, however, explained that a total deployment ban is not being considered since it would affect around 260,000 Filipinos, around 195,000 of them household service workers, currently in Kuwait.
The charred remains of Ranara, 35, were discovered in the Salmi desert last month. It was reported she was pregnant and had been subjected to blunt-force trauma. The 17-year-old son of her employer has been arrested by police on murder charges. The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait said it is still awaiting official confirmation of the ban from Manila. It is also monitoring the judicial process in Kuwait, adding it will respect any decision that will be taken.
Meanwhile, the Head of Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices Khaled Al-Dakhnan told Kuwait Times the ban on deployment of Filipino domestic helpers will affect local families. "The decision came after the recent murder of the Filipina worker. While only the murderer is responsible for this horrific act, innocent people - who are the majority in Kuwait - have sadly been affected by the murder which they did not commit. We should not generalize to include innocent people for the act of one murderer. The decision resulted from the uproar in the Philippines, which led to the ban of labor from the Philippines to Kuwait," he said.
On the consequences of the decision, Dakhnan said: "We will suffer a decrease of 80 percent workers. As a union, we asked the Public Authority of Manpower and the foreign ministry for agreeing to a memorandum of understanding on the labor force, but sadly we do not have a clear understanding of who is responsible or in charge for the shortfall of workers. The decrease in Filipino workers will cause many to suffer, especially since Ramadan is approaching. Families who have great need for household workers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan and the holidays, will be the most affected by the decision."
