Kuwait has lifted the visa ban on the deployment of Filipino skilled workers, including domestic workers, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing, Cacdac confirmed the lifting, saying this is part of Undersecretary Bernard Olalia’s visit to Kuwait last week.
“Bunsod ng pag uusap nina Undersecretary Bernard and the Kuwaiti authorities, no less than the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior kausap ni Usec. Bernard tungo sa pagpayag muli, pagbukas muli ng deployment ng skilled workers in Kuwait, non-domestic workers (Usec. Bernard had a conversation with the Kuwaiti authorities, leading to the reopening of the deployment of skilled workers in Kuwait, including non-domestic workers),” Cacdac said.
For the deployment of domestic workers, he said Kuwaiti authorities agreed to the proposal of the Philippines to limit the deployment to those with work experience, similar to the deferment in February 2023.
Due to the murder case of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara, then Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, limited the deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait to only those with previous work experience, and banning first-timers.
In May 2023, Kuwait suspended all new visas for Philippine passport holders.
With this development, Cacdac said a two-week to one-month adjustment period is needed to set the relevant issuances and work on the regulations on the resumption of deployment of newly hired and skilled workers to Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Cacdac said the DMW is now working with their legal team, together with Ranara’s family, for the filing of civil action for damages against the Kuwaiti responsible for her death.
“Alam natin na convicted ng 16 years imprisonment ‘yung salarin but that’s not the complete justice na gusto natin dahil meron pang civil aspect ito and right now we’re working with the lawyers and the family of Julleebee andito lang sila nung isang araw sa DMW. Isinasagawa ngayon ‘yung filing of the civil action for damages through our lawyers (We know that the culprit was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment but that’s not the complete justice that we want because there is a civil aspect to this and right now we’re working with the lawyers and the family of Jullebee, they were just here at the DMW. The filing of the civil action for damages is now underway through our lawyers),” he said.
In related developments, Cacdac said Olalia also gathered information on the status of the Al-Mangaf fire early this June where several OFWs were affected.
He said that DMW lawyers are now looking at legal liabilities on the side of the employers and the building owners, adding that legal actions could be filed on behalf of the victims.
Three OFWs died due to smoke inhalation, two sustained major injuries, while six were safe.
The remains of those who died have been repatriated to the Philippines.
Kuwaiti authorities are still investigating the case. (ANTONIO)
