(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday, April 12, that he would witness the signing of an agreement for the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers in Kuwait.
“Maganda naman. To give honor din sa Kuwaiti government. I’ll go there to witness the signing,” Duterte said.
He said he would go to witness the signing “anytime.”
According to Duterte, one of the Philippine government demands is for the OFWs to have a one day-off per week.
Another is that they be allowed to cook their own food, and retain their passports and their cellphones.
“So kung may problema sila, they can go directly to me. (Hotline) 8888,” he said.
According to Duterte, “fundamentally if it is written in contract, I would insist they honor every word.”
“OK na yan sa akin,” he said.
In February, President Duterte lashed out at Kuwait over the mistreatment of OFWs there, and following the death of Joanna Demafelis, who was found in a freezer in an apartment in the Middle Eastern country.
The labor department has implemented a ban on the deployment of OFWs following the incident.