THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is set to issue a decision soon on whether or not to impose a temporary suspension of deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) in Kuwait.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are looking into the possibility to momentarily stop sending HSWs to the host country due to the abuses on female overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
"We will make a decision on the proposed moratorium soon,” he said, adding there is urgent need to curb unfortunate incidents befalling Filipino workers.
Bello added, "We are taking this call for a moratorium seriously. We will conduct consultations with our partners and other government agencies.”
The Labor chief is in Kuwait to check on the status of another Filipino worker, Elpidio Lano, who is on death row. He was meted the death sentence by the Kuwait Court of First Instance for killing a fellow Filipino, Nilo Macaranas, on June 17, 2014.
Meanwhile, Bello directed the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to fast-track the facilitation of documents needed by the family of Jakatia Pawa for them to visit her grave in Kuwait.
“We will give them all the assistance they needed if and when the family decides to go to Kuwait,” he said.
But, Pawa’s family has yet to decide when to leave for Kuwait.
“Inaantay lang ang kanilang desisyon kung kailan nila gustong magpunta ng Kuwait. Kami ay narito naman para asikauhin ang kanilang pangangailangan,” he said.
Likewise, the OWWA has been instructed to expedite the provision of financial and livelihood assistance to the family of the OFW who was executed in Kuwait last Wednesday. (SunStar Philippines)