Speaking before the over 2,000 OFWs in Hongkong Thursday night, Duterte announced “I’m going to Kuwait maybe for the signing.” He added the move is to ensure that OFW are well protected.
Among the highlights of the MOU, according to Duterte, is the protection of the workers:
- The granting of a day off from work;
- The freedom to keep their passports ;
- The use of mobile phones after work;
- The observance of at least 7-hour sleep and;
- The freedom to cook their own food (in conformity with the Halal guidelines).
The Kuwait government, according to Duterte had agreed on his demands before lifting the deployment of the OFWs in Kuwait.
“I have made so many demands before we sign the contract and in fairness to the Kuwait government, they agreed,” the President said.
“I think that to give honor also to the Kuwaiti government, I will go there for the signing just to witness it,” he added.
“If those are complied, I said, ‘well, there would always be exception.’ But fundamentally, if it is written into the contract, I would insist that they would honor every word for it. So that is okay for me and any time, I will go there,” Duterte said.
On February 9, 2018, Duterte ordered the ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait due the killing of Joana Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer, and other abuses and maltreatment being experienced by other OFWs in the Arab state.
The visit according to Duterte will be quick “just to witness the signing of the MOU between our Labor Department and it’s counterpart in Kuwait.”-Jiann A. Padillo/Newsline.PH
