Wazzup Pilipinas!
“One more incident about a woman, a Filipina being raped there, I’m going to stop, I’m going to ban."- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
And so he did!
On the issue of maids and expatriate labor in Kuwait, the foreign ministry summoned Ambassador of Philippines to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Sulaiman Al- Jarallah announced. The Filipino envoy met at the ministry with the assistant foreign minister for consular affairs, who notified the ambassador about Kuwait’s regret and bewilderment towards his president’s decision to suspend the dispatch of workers to Kuwait. Such a stance contradicts the nature of the distinctive ties between the two countries and does not serve their common interests.
The Kuwaiti side noted to the ambassador that freedoms and rights enjoyed by the expatriate communities in the country have contributed to raising the number of Filipino workers to 276,000.
Moreover, the Kuwaiti side expressed readiness to host Filipino diplomats to discuss the conditions of the community and follow up on Filipinos’ problems.
I personally found the statement worthwhile. The president is the head of the state and he is defending the rights of his citizens, and this is a good thing. In fact, this is the normal duty of every president to ensure the safe living conditions of his citizens abroad.
There are about 250,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, according to the Philippine foreign ministry. Filipinos in Kuwait constitute the third largest community in Kuwait, after Indians and Egyptians.
I’m all for the ban but it should depend on the type of work you are going to do. If you're not on expat package, the government should not allow you.
Sounds better than getting beaten and locked up and not getting anything at all. $11 is still higher than the current minimum wage.
Actually, not getting any money while in your country and free is better than being a slave elsewhere.
I'm sure the president of the Philippines took many things in consideration here. I know there are many good Filipino people of honor and integrity that work hard to serve the Kuwaiti people and also send money home to support their families.
We should cry for that Filipina in Kuwait who was most probably murdered after being sexually abused, etc., and worse her body mutilated with her organs collected without her family's consent!
We should not let another Filipino suffer again from abuse and maltreatment that leads to major damage such as trauma, suicidal tendencies or death.
It is better to totally ban the deployment of our domestic worker to Kuwait.
As of now, Kuwait imposed some strict laws against expats including Philippines. Investigation is ongoing but whatever the results, please stop sending household workers in Kuwait until Kuwait employers will surely follow what are stated on the contract with monitoring program from the employment agencies and the government.
I hope that Filipino Nationals in Kuwait will not be adversely affected.
I also hope for the good people of honor and integrity in Kuwait to help enlighten their officials and countrymen. I know that every country has both wonderful kind considerate people, but also people who use and abuse everyone they possibly can.
"I do not want a quarrel with Kuwait. I respect their leaders, but they have to do something about this." -President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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