Palace sees partial lifting of Kuwait OFW ban

MANILA, Philippines — The ban on the deployment of workers to Kuwait may be partially lifted if a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on greater protection for Filipino workers is signed today or over the weekend, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.

“I am still getting authority from the President to say certain matters. But I would say that I am confident that with the signing of the MOA, there will be a partial lifting. There could not be full lifting until we have arranged the other details,” Roque said in a phone patch with Malacañang reporters.

The MOA, he said, would pave the way for the normalization of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Kuwait.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will incorporate the agreement in the contracts for deployment.

The partial lifting of the deployment ban will be implemented “as soon as the President announces it,” Roque added.

Based on the MOA, Filipino domestic workers should be given proper food and be allowed to own, possess and use cellular phones. Their passports would also be deposited at the Philippine embassy for safekeeping and not kept by their employers.

“The legal position of our workers would still be dictated by their labor contracts,” Roque stressed.

He described as “good news” the Kuwaiti labor chief’s assuming jurisdiction over domestic helpers from the ministry of interior.

Roque said an initial version of Kuwait’s labor contracts for all nationalities includes most of the conditions pushed by President Duterte.

Domestic workers can now also get additional benefits in case of “end of contract,” which is a provision found in contracts for skilled and semi-skilled workers.

Roque said Kuwait officials have also agreed to release the four Filipinos hired as drivers in the unauthorized rescue of distressed Filipino workers weeks ago.

“So, I think all prior arrangements had been made by (special envoy to Kuwait) Secretary (Abdullah) Mama-o, ours was really more of clinching it and ceremonial meeting with ministers. I’d like to give the credit to Sec. Mama-o,” he said.

He was referring to newly appointed special envoy Abdullah Mama-o. A new Philippine ambassador to Kuwait will likely be appointed only after the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“It’s very clear that they want to normalize ties as soon as possible, medyo nasaktan (they’re quite hurt) but they realized that it is to the mutual interest of the Philippines and Kuwait to resolve this as soon as possible,” Roque said.

Roque expressed optimism that backchannel negotiations will bear fruit.

“I think both the Philippines and Kuwait, we want to move on, we have to normalize ties, we want a win-win situation and we got a win-win situation,” he said.

Repatriation

The Kuwait government will also be shouldering the airfare of about 500 undocumented Filipinos who were allowed to return to the Philippines.  At total of 62 Filipinos facing charges in Kuwait will have to stay while on trial.

Kuwait’s state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) said officials of both countries have reiterated their determination to “work harder” to enhance bilateral relations.

On Wednesday, Kuwait’s deputy foreign minister Khaled Al-Jarallah received Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and other officials, including deputy chief of mission in Kuwait Mohd Noordin Lomondot.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, said he would take responsibility if it would be proven that he was wrong in his handling of the Kuwait situation.

For the time being, Cayetano said critics calling for his resignation should just allow him to finish his job of helping the country mend fences with Kuwait.

Giving in to calls for his resignation, he pointed out, would only weaken the Philippines’ position.

“This will be finished in a few days,” he told reporters in Riyadh. “If they want a hearing, if they want me out, that’s their privilege,” he said in Filipino. “And if what I did was wrong or if the DFA did not do its job, we’ll take responsibility.

“But in the middle of negotiations, in the middle of the fight, you will weaken our position” if he steps down, Cayetano said.

He stressed he is only the face of the negotiations with Kuwait and that what’s unfolding is the product of team effort.

He added they have asked for a special police unit to take part in rescue operations. “I can tell you already, but that’s the final thing we are asking for,” he added.

He also praised Mama-o for doing a lot of the groundwork behind the cameras and without fanfare. Mama-o was President Duterte’s classmate at the San Beda College of Law.

Cayetano said he is set to meet with Kuwaiti foreign minister Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah to discuss the MOA.   –  With Pia Lee-Brago