Philippine Government Has Said The Ban On Employment Of The Filipino Workers Remains In Place

01 March 2018 Kuwait

The Philippine government has said the ban on employment of the Filipino workers remains in place in a bid to open talks on their working conditions in Kuwait, according to news.abs-cbn.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Wednesday said the ban is an opportunity for what it called “fruitful negotiations” with Kuwait on reported cases of abuse and slave-like conditions for migrant workers under the so-called “kafala” system — a common practice in Arab countries which requires migrant workers to have a sponsor.
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“The kafala or sponsor is not just a sponsor or employer as understood in the West but becomes a virtual owner of the household service worker in the concept of chattel (personal possession),” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella said. He went on to say, “This is manifested in slavery work conditions such as no days off, no food, two to four hours of sleep daily and maltreatment. Often, slave conditions including sexual slavery,” he added, noting that 6,000 cases of abuses against Filipinos in Kuwait were reported in 2016.

Presidential Adviser on OFWs Abdullah Mama-o had earlier said the government should not allow Filipinos to find work in the Middle East under the kafala system. Abella also touched on reports that certain employers in the Middle East trade in Filipino household workers among different families. He said an “audit” is being made in light of such reports. “Philippine household workers have reported that certain families and employers are in the habit of trading household service help among families,” Abella said.DFA Office of the Middle East and Africa Affairs Executive Director Raymond Balatbat

SOURCE : ARABTIMES

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