follow Derek Jorge's "Komedya o Komida"in People's Brigada News Manila
Ph suspends accred of new foreign recruitments in Kuwait
By J.Lo
"We're just deferring applications for accreditation of new foreign recruitment agencies in Kuwait," Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) spokesman Toby Nebrida said Philippine government has suspended its accreditation of new foreign recruitment agencies in Kuwait.
DMW said move was to ensure new recruitment agencies would be carefully evaluated.
DMW said move was not related to case of Jullebee Ranara, who was brutally killed in Kuwait.
He said accredited recruitment agencies remained in operation.
"It's just really making sure evaluation for job orders, for evaluating and assessing recruitment agency and employer," Nebrida said.
DMW has issued order for preventive suspension of employer of slain overseas Filipino worker Ranara, whose burned body was found on Sunday in Kuwait desert .
"Upon review of the case involved and with existing facts we had, Department of Migrant Workers filed ... employer involved, and we already issued an order preventively suspending employer of OFW Jullebee Ranara," DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said at press briefing.
"Ang ibig sabihin ng preventive suspension ay hindi siya puwedeng mag-hire ng OFW ngayon at kailanman ... preventive suspension will later on lead to blacklisting upon termination of the proceedings," Olalia stressed.
The DMW is also set to file cases against two recruitment agencies.
"After examination of the facts involved, by next week, there will be recruitment violation case that will be filed against Philippine recruitment agency and FRA involved," Olalia said.
Following Ranara's death, DMW will meet all local recruitment agencies sending household services workers to Kuwait to discuss issues and concerns regarding deployment.
DMW Secretary Susan Ople said both DMW and Department of Foreign Affairs had consensus "to engage Kuwaiti government in discussion about stricter safeguards, more responsiveness, and concrete action, especially on calls and assistance to OFWs in Kuwait."
Ople added DMW is eyeing resumption of bilateral labor talks with Kuwaiti government before start of Ramadan in March.
Ople reiterated DMW does not see need to implement deployment ban to Kuwait following Ranara's death.
"If you impose a deployment ban, you are sending message that Kuwait is not suitable for workers… 'galit-galit tayo…hindi kami magpapadala sa inyo...we understand that because of Filipinos' anger toward incident, others think deployment ban is what should be properly done, yung sa amin lang naman, meron namang puwang para mag-usap…ngayon ang dapat ayusin 'yung agenda ng pag-uusapan," she said.
Ople said Kuwait had no intention to cut off ties with Philippines, and it had written to victim's mother it was not condoning crime and that it was confident that justice would be obtained.
"It should not be seen as sign of weakness on part of Philippine government in deciding not to impose deployment ban," she said.
Fact -finding team led by Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services Hans Leo Cacdac will look into welfare cases of distressed Filipino workers in Kuwait. This includes possible filing of cases in labor tribunals in Middle Eastern country and facilitation of safe repatriation of OFWs.
Ople also welcomed proposal of Senator Rafael Tulfo to look for alternative markets for domestic workers.
"I see need to publish list of countries accept Filipino domestic workers, safeguard mechanisms in place in those countries, and even number of welfare cases that we have been experiencing in those countries," she said.
DMW is looking into possible liability of recruitment agency of Ranara.
Cacdac said department is checking if agency properly monitored victim Ranara following her deployment to Kuwait.
"'Yan ay tinitingnan din ngayon ni Undersecretary Olalia ," Cacdac said when asked if Ranara's recruiter can be held liable in her killing.
"Ang isang nakikita ko ngayon dito, una 'yung kanilang pag-monitor…kasi under DMW rules, dapat merong monitoring at regular reporting ng kalagayan ng isang OFW lalo na yung mga OFW kasambahay sa kalagayan nila sa abroad," he added.
Cacdac said there is no record that Ranara or her recruiter has reported any issues with her employer to authorities. She was reportedly raped and impregnated by suspect, who is the 17-year-old son of her employer. The victim was also reportedly beaten and ran over by the suspect's car twice.
The suspect is now under custody of police.
Ranara's family said they were in contact with her until Friday evening. Cacdac said Ranara called and told her family that child of her employer had threatened her as they had misunderstanding.
According to Cacdac, DMW is still waiting for an official report from Office of the Prosecutor in Kuwait.
In a statement, Philippine Embassy in Kuwait greatly appreciates swift action and response of Kuwaiti Police, especially in apprehension of suspected perpetrator, and in investigation of Ranara's death.
"The Embassy and the Filipino community in Kuwait extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late Ms. Ranara as they mourn loss of their loved one," the Embassy said.
In 2018, then-President Rodrigo Duterte ordered deployment ban to Kuwait following killing of Filipina domestic worker Joanna Daniela Demafelis. The ban was lifted in February 2020.
At public briefing Nebrida said they are coordinating with Kuwait authorities and police to bring home remains of Ranara.
"May mga ilang document at proseso na kailangang matupad and we have to comply with that upang maiuwi na po natin ang labi ni Julleebee Ranara at tayo naman ay we are hopeful na ilang araw na lamang po ay maibabalik na ang kanyang remains po dito sa Pilipinas," he said.
Nebrida said they also receive reports from OFWs in Kuwait regarding cases of abuse and maltreatment.
He then highlighted the importance of revisiting current bilateral labor arrangements between the Philippines and Kuwait.
"There are cases of contract violation, abuse, and maltreatment ng mga OFWs…kaya panahon na kailangang balikan natin revisahin natin yung kasulukuyang kasunduan between pamahalaan natin at pamahalaan ng Kuwait tungkol sa ating bilateral labor arrangements," Nebrida said.
"Kailangan yatang pagtibayin pa yung protection mechanism for our workers hindi na tayo papayag na ganun na lang at nakakalusot yung violations," he added.
No comments:
Post a Comment