DOLE chief to declare partial employment ban to Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines — Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday said it would declare partial employment ban to Kuwait following the death of overseas Filipino worker Jeanelyn Villavende.

“Partial lang muna. We will wait for the result of the investigation dun sa pagkamatay ni Jeanelyn,” Bello said in an interview with GMA News.

(Just partial [employment ban] for now. We will wait for the result of the investigation on the death of Jeanelyn)

Bello said the ban would only be partial as it would not cover returning domestic helpers and first-time skilled workers. It would only prohibit new domestic helpers.

The DOLE chief earlier expressed intent to impose deployment ban in Kuwait amid the government’s call for justice for the death of Villavende.Villavende who was killed by her employer’s wife.

The kin of Villavende has already appealed justice for the slain OFW.

The labor department said Villavende’s death 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 Filipino workers in the Gulf nation.

READ: Labor chief ‘ready’ to ban deployment to Kuwait after death of another OFW

Foreign Affairs chief Teodoro Locsin Jr. also condemned Villavende’s death and is demanding for justice, citing “an eye for an eye, a life for a life.” — Rosette Adel