Vacationing workers exempt from ban

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified yesterday that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on vacation and returning to their employers to complete their contracts in Kuwait are exempted from the deployment ban.

“The deployment covers all types of workers, but it does not cover those vacationing in the country and will be returning to their employers to finish their contract,” Bello said.

He said Balik Manggagawa (BM) who are returning to Kuwait on a new contract with the

same employer are also exempted from the deployment ban.

Seafarers in transit through or boarding in Kuwait to reach their ships are also not covered by the ban, Bello said.

He added that workers exempted from the deployment ban are still required to secure clearance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente issued an order to immigration officers that the “Balik Manggagawa” passengers or vacationing OFWs are not covered by the deployment ban.

He instructed BI Port Operations Division (POD) chief Marc Red Mariñas to make sure that the OFWs returning to Kuwait are properly documented and subjected to the usual immigration departure formalities.

He also said that Kuwaitibound Filipinos with shortterm non-working visas would also be allowed to depart since they are not covered by the ban.

Bello had signed on Monday an administrative order banning the deployment of new OFWs to Kuwait.

President Duterte ordered the deployment ban after Filipina domestic helper Joanna Daniella Demafelis was recently found dead and hidden inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment.

According to Bello, the victim could have been in the freezer since November 2016 when her employers – a Lebanese man and his Syrian wife – left for Lebanon.

Bello is hopeful that the couple will be arrested soon since the Minister of Interior of Kuwait had their address in Lebanon and it already coordinated with the Interpol.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the sudden influx of amnesty seekers has prompted the Philippine embassy in Kuwait to hire additional temporary workers and a DFA Rapid Response Team (RRT) to assist returning workers.

The DFA negotiated with Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines to provide mercy flight for 730 returning OFWs.

The DFA’s Assistance to Nationals (ATN) fund is being utilized for the repatriations.

Members of the RRTs are now in Kuwait to augment embassy personnel to conduct the repatriation process.

The OFWs returning to the Philippines from Kuwait include those who have overstayed or escaped from their employers, as well as those reported to have been abused.

Some 332 more OFWs from Kuwait arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on two separate flights of Philippine Airlines and Gulf Air.

Foreign Affairs Udersecretary Ernesto Abella met the returning workers that were repatriated from Kuwait.

“President Duterte is doing everything to help OFWs to find other jobs in China and even in Russia,” Abella said.

Among the returning workers is 14-year-old Filipino-Egyptian Gumana Hassanin, who arrived with her aunt Bailamie Nonukan.

Gumana will stay in Zamboanga until her mother arrives in a few months.

Rochelle Nania, 25, a domestic helper in Kuwait, escaped from her employer after her salary was not paid.

She complained that she was not allowed to have a day off, given meager food and not allowed to go out of the house.

“Last November, I ran away and went to Salmiyah, Kuwait where Filipina OFWs helped me find part-time jobs like a dress shop and restaurant while waiting for repatriation proceedings,” she said.

Compensation for victim

The family of slain domestic helper Demafelis, 29, of Sara, Iloilo would get P600,000 burial and other assistance from the government.

Bello said the OWWA board has approved a resolution granting assistance to Demafelis’ family.

“Part of the assistance will go to Demafelis’ youngest sister and the ailing son of her elder sister that were the reason why she left to work abroad,” said OWWA administrator Hans Cacdac.

Aside from the OWWA assistance, the family of Demafelis will also receive P50,000 from private recruitment firms.

The Philippine Association of Agencies for Kuwait (PHILAAK) pledged to extend financial assistance to the family of Demafelis.

Demafelis’ sister Jessica said that her sister opted to work in Kuwait to help her family and be able to send one of her siblings to college.

But two years after working in Kuwait, Joanna was killed.

Initial investigation showed that Demafelis sustained broken bones and stab wounds.

Bello said investigation on the death of Demafelis is ongoing and the government is ready to provide assistance to her family.