THE formal signing of an agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait on the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf nation may be inked after the observance of Ramadan, MalacaƱang said Tuesday, April 24.
"We still expect the MOA (memorandum of agreement), providing the minimum terms and conditions of employment for OFWs to be signed soon," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told a press conference.
"The possible date may be after this year's Ramadan," he added.
This developed after President Rodrigo Duterte met with Kuwaiti Ambassador Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh in Davao City on Monday, April 23, amid the viral video showing the rescue of alleged abused domestic Filipino domestic helpers in Kuwait.
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly presented two protest notes for the "serious offenses" committed by Filipino officials against the Kuwaiti government, which "could harm the friendship relations" between the Philippines and the Arab country.
Kuwait's protest notes were released in the wake of the alleged move of the Philippine Embassy to rescue alleged maltreated OFWs directly from the homes of their Kuwaiti employers.
But Roque said the "frank but a very cordial" dialogue between Duterte and the Kuwaiti envoy led to both countries' reaffirmation to maintain "closer" ties.
Roque also stressed that the President was able to iron out the "little misunderstanding" that had cropped up, following the controversial rescue."
"On the part of the President, his assessment was he's able to fix a little misundesanding between Kuwait and the Philippines yesterday... The President has his style. And I think, his style worked. And whatever ill feelings that may have resulted because of the leak of the video, the President was able to fix it," he said.
"They parted on a positive note, emphasizing that while the Philippines will always exercise its obligation to protect its nationals abroad, they will do so in the manner respecting the sovereignty of Kuwait," he added.
Philippines-Kuwait relations have been strained, following the reported inhumane treatment of Filipino workers, including Joanna Demafelis whose body was found inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in the Arab country's Al Shaab district.
The impending signing of agreement with Kuwait to ensure the safety and the welfare of Filipino workers in the host country is seen as a solution to put an end to the continuing abuses against the OFWs.
On April 12, Duterte said he was ready to go to Kuwait "any time" to witness the signing of the bilateral pact, as well as to check if his conditions for the Filipino migrant workers' protection would be met.
Earlier, Duterte incorporated some "mandatory" provisions in the draft agreement, such as the prohibition of confiscation of OFWs' passports, assurance of seven-hour sleep, granting of day off, cooking of own food, and no physical abuse by Kuwait employers.
Roque, in a television interview earlier Tuesday, said the negotiations between the Philippines and Kuwait continue, noting that there are two contentious provisions that they need to resolve.
He, however, assured that the disagreeing provisions would not impede the signing of the bilateral labor deal between the two nations.
"I think we're almost at the point where we can say we're there but noy yet. There are two controversial iasues -- the fact that they should be given one day off... and the food. But (those are) not really major issue(s)," the presidential spokesperson said. (SunStar Philippines)