Manila puts ‘total ban’ on new jobs in Kuwait

Rule to cover Filipinos who obtained work permits, but are yet to leave Philippines

The Philippines yesterday expanded a ban on its citizens working in Kuwait after President Rodrigo Duterte angrily lashed out at the country over reports of Filipino workers suffering abuse and exploitation.

Authorities say 252,000 Filipinos work in Kuwait, many as maids. They are among over two million employed in the region, whose remittances are a lifeline to the Philippine economy.

But Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello yesterday announced a “total ban” on new employment in the country, including Filipinos who had already obtained employment permits but had not yet left for Kuwait.

Authorities have not ruled out revoking the permits of Filipinos currently working in Kuwait or of previous hires returning on new contracts.

“With the advent of the series of reports involving abuses and deaths of overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait, a total ban on deployment of all overseas workers ... is hereby enforced,” Bello said, reading an order.

“This order takes effect immediately.” The move would affect thousands of workers, labour spokeswoman Abegail de Vega said.

Exemption

The fresh move came after Duterte last month barred Filipinos from seeking work in Kuwait, although the ban exempted those who had already secured permission.

Kuwait’s embassy in Manila declined to comment.

The Philippine foreign affairs department said yesterday authorities were repatriating 10,000 overstaying Filipinos from Kuwait, taking advantage of an amnesty programme arranged with the Kuwaiti government.