(Eagle News)–Kuwait and the Philippines are slated to sign a memorandum of agreement on the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers in the Gulf state on Friday, May 11.
This is according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who attended the meeting between Kuwait and Philippine representatives in the Middle Eastern country, following strained relations between the two countries over the rescue of distressed Overseas Filipino Workers there that Kuwait deemed illegal.
Kuwait expelled Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and recalled its Manila representative following the incident.
According to Roque, included in the MOU to be signed is a provision that the employer will not confiscate the OFWs’ passport as it will instead be deposited in the Philippine Embassy.
Also included in the MOU is a provision that household workers would have one week day off, with a minimum sleep of seven hours; and would be allowed to have their cellphones to call a hotline set up to address their concerns.
“Now ‘yung pagkain po, hindi talaga nakasulat na pwede sila magluto pero nakasulat doon ‘yung obligasyon na kailangan bigyan ng disenteng pagkain at tulugan ‘yung ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Roque has said the Kuwaiti government also agreed to release four Filipino drivers detained over the controversial OFW rescue, videos of which circulated on social media.