PRESS RELEASE | 27 January 2018
The Commission on Human Rights welcomed the move of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to look into the deaths of seven (7) OFWs while issuing a suspension on the deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait.
Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, the CHR’s focal person for migrant workers’ rights, said the decision will hopefully provide all stakeholders including Kuwaiti employers and recruitment agencies, time to reflect and adopt the necessary reforms to strengthen and uphold the rights of migrant workers especially those working as domestic workers.
“The CHR supports the government’s efforts to promote stronger protection and enhanced welfare mechanisms for our overseas Filipino workers especially those most prone to abuse and exploitation,” Commissioner Gana said.
She said that her office is willing to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment as well as other government agencies, civil society organizations, and OFW groups in pushing for reforms that would result in decent work and safe migration.
“Migrant workers’ rights are human rights and we all share an obligation to make sure that our OFWs are treated well and fairly around the world,” Commissioner Gana said.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed Administrative Order No. 25 Series of 2018 yesterday, which said:
“In the interest of justice, pending the investigation of the cause of deaths of the following Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Kuwait, namely: Liezl Truz Hukdong, Vanessa Karissha L. Esguerra, Maria Fe Saliling Librada, Arlene Castillo Manzano, Devine Riche Encarnacion, Patrick Sunga, Mira Luna Juntilla, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is hereby directed to suspend the processing of Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC) for deployment in Kuwait.”
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the launch of the Overseas Filipino Bank, expressed concern over the recent deaths of OFWs in Kuwait.