The Department of Labor and Employment is looking at the possibility of imposing a temporary suspension on the deployment of Filipino household service workers to Kuwait, following the execution of Jakatia Pawa for killing her employer’s daughter in 2007.
In a statement, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III cited the abuses experienced by overseas Filipino workers, particularly female household service workers, for the moratorium.
“We are taking this call for a moratorium seriously. We will conduct consultations with our partners and other government agencies,” Bello said. “We will make a decision on the proposed moratorium soon,” added Bello.
The Labor chief, who flew to Kuwait from Rome, Italy after the peace talks to check on the status of another Filipino on Death Row, Elpidio Lano, who was meted the death sentence by the Kuwait Court of First Instance for killing a fellow Filipino, Nilo Macaranas, on June 17, 2014, said there is an urgent need to curb unfortunate incidents befalling Filipino workers.
“Our OFWs leave the country with the promise of a better life for their families, unfortunately they are confronted with their worst nightmare in these countries,” said Bello.
Bello has directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to fast-track the facilitation of documents needed by the family of Pawa to enable them to visit her grave.
“We will give them all the assistance they needed if and when the family decides to go to Kuwait,” he said.
The DoLE said Pawa’s family has yet to decide when to leave for Kuwait. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)