Kuwait suspends entry, work visas for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — Kuwait has suspended the issuance of entry and work visas for Filipinos, citing the Philippines’ alleged non-compliance with the labor agreement between the two countries.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said in a CNN Philippines interview that the Kuwaiti government has not yet informed the Philippines of its decision to suspend entry and work visas for Filipinos.

Only Filipinos with valid visas can enter Kuwait starting May 10.

“The Kuwaiti government has suspended the issuance of new entry visas for Philippine nationals into Kuwait,” Cortes said.

“However, those holding current resident visas, as evidenced by their possession of a Kuwait civil ID, can enter and leave Kuwait anytime,” he added.

Cortes said the Philippine government is committed to settling the issue amicably.

Al Arabiya News reported that Kuwait First Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister and acting Defense Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah ordered the suspension of visa issuance for violation of a labor agreement.

The Philippines decided to temporarily ban the deployment of first-time household service workers to Kuwait to ensure their safety following the murder of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jullebee Ranara by her employer’s son. Ranara’s burnt corpse was found in a desert.

The Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a memorandum on May 10 that ordered personnel of Kuwait International Airport to bar Filipinos from entering the country, even those with visas, except for Filipinos who are Kuwait residents.

Local recruitment industry consultant Manny Geslani said the suspension could affect at least 3,000 Kuwait-bound OFWs. – Mayen Jaymalin