DOLE condemns killing of Pinay in Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday expressed outrage over the killing of another Filipina worker in Kuwait.

“The labor department is deeply saddened and outraged over the violent death of Filipino worker Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende in the hands of her Kuwaiti employer,” DOLE said in a statement.

“The case is a clear violation of the agreement signed by both Kuwait and the Philippines in 2018 that seeks to uphold and promote the protection of the rights and welfare of our workers in the Gulf state,” it added. 

DOLE hoped for the swift resolution of the case and that justice will be served to Villavende and her family, it said. 

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is extending burial and livelihood assistance as well as scholarship to the family members of Villavende. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also condemned Villavende’s killing.

It summoned the Kuwaiti ambassador to protest “the seeming lack of protection of Filipino domestic workers in the hands of their employers.”

The DFA called for “complete transparency” in the investigation of the case and “swift prosecution of the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.”

The Philippine embassy in Kuwait is coordinating with Kuwaiti authorities “to ensure that justice will be served.”

Deployment ban urged

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)  is pushing for a ban on deployment of OFWs to the Arab country.

“The government should stop sending Filipino workers and repatriate those already there,” the union said, signifying its protest on the death of Filipino domestic workers. 

“The Philippine government has no other choice but to send a strong reaction like it did last year in the wake of gruesome deaths of Filipino workers there by suspending immediately the deployment of Filipino household service workers,” TUCP said in a statement.

TUCP president Raymond Mendoza said the death of another Filipino worker showed that Kuwait is not providing conducive and safe working environment for OFWs.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) is closely coordinating with the employers for the immediate repatriation of the remains of the two Filipinas killed in a freak vehicular accident in Singapore last Sunday.

The POLO also provided assistance to four other Filipinos injured in the accident. 

“OWWA will provide burial assistance to the deceased OFWs as well as livelihood assistance and scholarship grants to their family members,” DOLE said.

Families of the injured OFWs would also receive livelihood and scholarship assistance from OWWA, it added. – Pia Lee-Brago