Philippines mulls deployment ban to Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — Following the death of another Filipina worker, the Philippines may ban anew the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait. 

“It’s an option,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III replied when asked yesterday whether the government would reimpose the deployment ban.           

“I am taking the Kuwaiti government to task for the gruesome death of yet another Filipino worker in the hands of her employer in Kuwait,” he added.

Bello said he has ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait to go after the foreign and local agencies that deployed 47-year-old Constancia Dayag to the Arab state.    Based on reports reaching DOLE, Bello said Dayag was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital last Tuesday night.         

“Her body bore various contusions and hematoma, with a cucumber inside her private part,” Bello noted.

Bello said the death of Dayag was condemnable.  He said the government will exert all efforts to serve justice to the victim and her family.

Bello said aside from apparent violation of the agreement on the protection of overseas Filipino workers between the Philippine government and Kuwait, there appears to have been a breach of the employment contract by the foreign employer.   

Over a year ago, the government stopped the deployment of Filipino workers to the Arab state after the body of a Filipina domestic helper was found stuffed inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait.

The government later lifted the ban after an agreement providing protection for Filipino workers was forged between the two countries.

POEA chief Bernard Olalia said members of the governing board will meet to discuss the possibility of imposing a deployment ban.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will provide death and burial benefits to the family of Dayag.        

OWWA is also giving livelihood and scholarship support to one of her children.

OWWA chief Hans Cacdac said they have already met with the family of Dayag.