DOLE denies alleged involvement of labor execs in human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday dismissed reports on the alleged involvement of some labor officials in human trafficking and other illegal activities in Kuwait.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said she ordered the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait to comment on the reported large-scale human trafficking activities allegedly involving Philippine embassy and labor officials.

“After receiving the directive to comment on the published reports, Kuwait labor attaché Cesar Chavez Jr. belied the allegations,” Baldoz said.

“There is no (new) sex-related activities at the post perpetrated by POLO personnel or anyone else under my stewardship,“ Baldoz quoted a report sent by Chavez to the DOLE main office.

Reports said a human trafficking syndicate involving embassy and labor officials and victimizing Filipino workers in Kuwait has been uncovered.

But Chavez maintained that the embassy and the POLO, under a new team of officials, are doing well in combating trafficking and abuses committed against Filipino workers in Kuwait.

He said that with the help of leaders and members of the Filipino community, labor officials continue to raid suspected sex dens and rescue abused domestic helpers.

He also reported that the number of labor cases and distressed workers staying in government-run welfare centers has sharply dropped as a result of the DOLE’s reform initiatives. As of Dec. 31, 2013, the POLO in Kuwait has only 90 distressed OFWs out of 2,249 who sought shelter there during the entire year.

The reports of human trafficking, Chavez added, appeared to be a revival of old incidents already being investigated by appropriate government agencies in the Philippines.