By Genalyn D. Kabiling
The deployment ban on Filipino workers to Kuwait would remain in effect until certain conditions on additional protection for workers are met, President Duterte said.
Included in the President’s proposals to Kuwait are Filipino workers should be given adequate food and sleep and not subjected to sexual abuse.
“The ban stays until I meet the guys and talk,” the President during the oath-taking of new officials of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission in Malacañang last Tuesday.
“One is that ‘wag ninyong kunin ‘yung passport ng Pilipina. Kinukuha nila ‘yung passport eh. Pangalawa, bigyan ninyong panahon matulog. Bigyan ninyo ng pagkain kasi ‘pag hindi, p***** i** ninyo. Pang-apat, ‘wag ninyong – kasi ang Pilipina hindi ‘yan para – hindutin ninyo,” he added.
If the workers’ conditions are not improved, the President is inclined to urge other Filipinos to leave Kuwait and return home. “Ngayon, ‘pag wala ‘yan, sorry. Umuwi kayo dito, bahala na pobre tayo,” he said.
Duterte assured that the government would provide assistance to displaced workers, including allowances. “Eh ‘di hati-hatiin natin ‘yang pera. Eh ibigay ko ‘yan, ‘yung allowance,” he said.
The President recently authorized a ban on the deployment of workers to Kuwait following reports of brutal deaths and other abuses committed against some Filipinos.
