Total Deployment Ban of OFWs in Kuwait

Position Paper

Finding the right jobs is one of the most challenging things faced by
most Filipinos. There so much to be considered before applying or
accepting a job. From salary rates, convenience, to the benefits that can be
claimed by the employees. Due to this, many Filipino workers prefer to
work abroad to find a job which can feed all of their needs. UAE is one of
the most in-demand place to work especially for household workers.
Recently, a pinay OFW was brutally murdered by her Lebanese employer
in Kuwait. She was found dead inside a refrigerator. Due to this President
Rodrigo Duterte issued the Administrative Order No. 54: Total ban on
deployment of all Overseas Filipino Workers to Kuwait. This is to prohibit
the deployment of OFW to Kuwait. The order aims nothing but just to
protect and avoid Filipino workers from danger. Thus it deserves the
support and understanding by many, for a much safer OFWs.

The order is supported by many members of the senate and was

agreed by the DOLE secretary Silvester Bello III. The order is supported by
many justifications, and so it should be generally accepted. The recent
murdered OFW case wasn't the first abuse and killing issue in Kuwait.
Hundreds of housemaids in Kuwait assert they have been beaten or raped.
More complain they have not been paid for months, even years. One 23-
year-old woman told The Times her Kuwaiti employer throttled her with
the charger cord for a mobile telephone. In 2010 month there were reports
in the local media that a Filipina had been tortured and killed by her
employer. Another was thrown from a window when her boss discovered
that she was planning to leave (Hugh Tomlinson, 2010). Secondly, Kuwait
is not the only choice of OFWs. There are so many places just a fly from
the Philippines like Japan and Singapore offers a much better salary rates
and benefits. OFWs, have so much choices to work abroad, these includes
Europe with 32 countries, Americas with 21, 17 from Asia Pacific Region,
4 countries from. Africa and 2 from Middle East (POEA, 2011). Out of hese
countries identified by POEA as OFW-friendly nations who agreed the
revised Migrant Workers Act or the R.A 10022 which protects workers
right, Kuwait isn't included. This proved that Kuwait doesn't recognize the
value of Filipino workers.
The central point of the order is to avoid future abuses and murders
that might experience by OFWs in Kuwait. Though the country had
provided jobs to thousands of Filipinos, the dignity and lives that had been
took off by the immoral and inhumane acts by its people. The total
deployment ban of OFWs in Kuwait will ensure the safety as most of the
OFWs who came back, wish for. Also, the Philippine government will give
subsidies and support to the balikbayans. Additionally, DOLE and other
employment agencies promised to provide opportunities for OFWs to work
back abroad except Kuwait.
As a concerned student and citizen of the Philippines, I agree with
what the chair of senate on labor and employment, Joel Villanueva said,
"We should stop sending our kababayans to countries where they are not
being treated properly". The banning order is not unfair for all of the OFWs
in Kuwait, the order is not compulsory to workers that are already working
properly and safely in Kuwait, and othe countries are ready to accommodate
and provide jobs to OFWs that decided to exit Kuwait. The total deployment
ban is justifiable for it was based on the R.A. 10022, OFW protection act,
and the recent case in Kuwait is not the first immoral issue. The idea of the
order is that " Safety and human life worth more than anything else, thus
can't be paid off by money". The new and today's modern hero's deserve
more than what they need, not the worst that they can get.