(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, April 29, said the ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers to Kuwait would “stay permanently.”
The President made the announcement upon his arrival from Singapore, where he attended the 32nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The announcement came after the President urged OFWs there to come home in a speech before the Filipino community in Singapore.
“My only concern is to get them back safely, all of them. Sana pumayag sila,” he said.
He said he has already asked Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to “start the mobilization immediately.”
“They have to come home..Those who opt to stay, I would like to address their patriotism,” he said.
He said the Philippines economy was “doing good,” with the country being short on workers.
“We can always appeal to other nations for a concession,” he said.
The President’s announcement came after Kuwait expelled Philippine ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa and ordered the recall of its Manila representative in protest of Philippine embassy officials’ rescue of OFWs abused by their employers in the Middle Eastern country.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator said the act was illegal in Kuwait if Kuwaiti authorities were not improperly informed.
The Department of Foreign Affairs described Kuwait’s move as “inconsistent” with pronouncements during a meeting between President Duterte and the Kuwaiti ambassador.
He said the Philippines gave the assurance Kuwait would be respected, while Kuwait assured the protection of OFWs in the Gulf state.
