3 Local Sunday, January 19, 2020 Philippine labor ban includes semi skilled workers returning to Kuwait Filipinos bound to Kuwait stranded at Manila, Clark airport’s immigration By Ben Garcia and Agencies DOLE imposed total ban for the deployment of new- Filipino workers in Kuwait. The ban includes skilled their Filipino workers. ly-hired workers to Kuwait, including domestic workers,” Panelo said. Panelo also issued the state- KUWAIT: The total ban the Philippines imposed on helpers and skilled and unskilled laborers. The deci- ment after the DOLE sought the total ban on the Kuwait dismayed laborers seeking to work in Kuwait has been expand- sion was based on the results of an autopsy conduct- deployment of OFWs to Kuwait in the wake of Kuwaiti Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular ed to include even vacationing Filipino semi-skilled ed on the remains of Filipina maid Jeanelyn Villavende’s murder and the Arab state’s supposed Affairs Ambassador Samie Al-Hamad had on Thursday workers, who can no longer return to their employers. Villavende indicating she was not just heavily tor- attempt to cover up the case. voiced Kuwait’s dismay at a Philippine government Hundreds of vacationers who were heading back to tured, but also sexually abused, which is contrary to The announcement came after Duterte recently decision to impose a total ban on the deployment of Kuwait after they had just concluded their Christmas the brief autopsy report of the Kuwaiti health min- announced that he was not keen on ordering the repa- workers to Kuwait. The Philippine move came in spite break are being held back in Manila by immigration istry, a POEA decision said. triation of Filipino workers from Kuwait. Results of the of the legal action taken by concerned Kuwaiti officers. “I have the papers and certificate of employ- National Bureau of Investigation’s examination of authorities in the aftermath of the killing of a Filipino ment in Kuwait. I have been with the company for 12 Vulnerable workers Villavende’s remains showed signs of sexual abuse on in Kuwait, Hamad said in a press statement. “As we years. I have a good salary and I do not have any Speaking to Kuwait Times, Estrelita Hizon the victim. There were also “old healed wounds” which express our extreme sorrow at this appalling crime, problem with my employer. They are treating us pretty explained why the balik mangagawa (returning indicate that Villavende had been battered weeks pri- which is uncommon in the Kuwaiti society and even well. Why am I now being included in the ban,” asked OFWs) semi-skilled workers were included. “They are or to her killing. Panelo said it seemed that the Kuwaiti against our Islamic values, the legal action taken Roland Gaspar David, who was supposed to be back also classified as vulnerable workers, so we decided to government is trying to conceal the truth. against the culprits - including arresting them and fil- to work as a line cook at a chain restaurant in Kuwait. include them as well in the ban. If their job category is “The result of the re-autopsy conducted by the ing a case with the Public Prosecution - reflects David was supposed to fly back via Qatar Airways included in the list, I suggest the only way is to make a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) indicates that Kuwait’s keenness on applying the law and ensuring from Clark International Airport in Pampanga, north of request and if the administrator of the POEA will overseas Filipino worker Jeanelyn Villavende was sex- justice to guarantee the safety and protection of all Manila on Friday when he was offloaded from the grant them permit, they can leave for work again in ually abused and sodomized,” he said. “The Kuwaiti those living on its soil, and that’s why it is a favorable flight. “I was advised by my boss to go to the main Kuwait; but again, no new hires will be permitted to government was attempting to hide the said circum- destination for people of different nationalities, office of the POEA in Manila and ask for exemption. I leave from all work categories, including semi-skilled stance when it gave us a general autopsy report that including Filipinos who are nearly a quarter million hope they will listen to me. My boss is also Filipino,” and skilled professionals,” Hizon explained. Asked for the cause of death was trauma and bruises all over her workers in number,” he said. Hamad wondered why he said. David took his annual leave from his work as the grounds for them to be permitted to go back to body,” he added. Philippine officials handle this case through mass chef to take advantage of the Christmas break. “If I their sponsors after spending vacation, he said: “If Panelo said the total deployment ban would not be media, rather than official methods, consultations and was able to fly back to Kuwait, I am expected to they were able to present to the Administrator (of the lifted unless Kuwait honors the 2018 labor deal with meetings, which Kuwait has always called for, and has return to work by January 19. But now, I am here and POEA) their case pretty well, maybe they will be per- the Philippines. He was referring to the memorandum even helped both sides overcome many obstacles and helpless,” he told Kuwait Times via phone. David said mitted to leave for work again in Kuwait,” he said. of agreement on the protection of OFWs in the Arab led to the signing of an agreement on domestic work- he was with three more workers who were all heading In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador country signed by the two countries on May 11, 2018. ers in 2018. The Kuwaiti official considered that such to Kuwait from Clark International Airport but were Panelo said Filipinos are now officially barred from “PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) is for a meetings are the optimum way to address the prob- all stopped by immigration officers last Friday. One seeking jobs in the Gulf state, following the killing of total ban until the memorandum of agreement lems of workers, revamp agreements and assess meas- was a hotel worker; another was a sales lady and the Filipino domestic worker Jeanelyn Padernal between the two countries is fully implemented and ures taken, thus averting any decisions or stances that third a salon worker, he said. Villavende. the terms contained therein are incorporated in could undermine bilateral relations. He concluded by Last Friday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte “The Palace wishes to inform the public that every labor contract with our OFWs,” he said. The offering heartfelt condolences and sincere solace to gave the green light to the Department of Labor and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has approved the rec- labor pact between the Philippines and Kuwait was the family of the victim, restating that meetings Employment (DOLE) to impose a total deployment ommendation of Labor and Employment Secretary seen as a solution to end the persistent human rights between both countries’ officials are essential to ban of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait. Silvestre Bello III on the total deployment ban of violations committed by Kuwaiti employers against resolving these problems. List of semi-skilled workers banned from working in Kuwait 1. Aerobic instructress 23. Public work, worker 2. Attendants (gasoline station, food) 24. Restaurant workers, amusement park 3. Baker worker 4. Beader, embroider, dressmaker, sewer, 25. Sales representative cutter, seamstress 26. Saleslady, supermarket worker 5. Beautician, beauty consultants, make- 27. Sandwich maker, sweet maker up artists, medicinal, manicurist, hair- 28. Secretary dresser, hairstylist, nail technician 29. Service crew 6. Cashier 30. Skin care specialist 7. Chambermaid 31. Storekeeper 8. Checker 32. Telephone operator 9. Clerk 33. Waitress 10. Cook 11. Customer service assistant Low semi-skilled male workers 12. Dishwasher 1. Bartender 13. Flower arranger (florist) 2. Butcher 14. Guest relations officer (GRO), recep- 3. Carpenter tionist 4. Liaison officer 15. Helper 5. Machine operator 16. Janitress, cleaner 6. Mason 17. Kitchen helper 7. Master cutter 18. Laundry woman 8. Painter 19. Masseuse, reflexologist 9. Plumber 20. Merchandiser 10. Room boy 21. Poultry worker 11. Tailor 22. Printer, canvasser Jaber Causeway only for cyclists on Fridays By Meshaal Al-Enezi a legislation is passed to allocate special paths for cyclists, Ajmi added. KUWAIT: The Jaber Causeway will be In other news, Al-Kout municipality closed from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm on emergency team recently filed two cita- Fridays on the side heading to Subbiya as tions for not showing prices of dis- the road will be allocated for bicycles’ use played items during a recent tour in only, Public Authority for Roads and Fahaheel, which included the fish mar- Transportation’s Official Spokesperson ket. In a similar inspection tour in Abdullah Al-Ajmi announced yesterday. Farwaniya, Al-Saddiq team filed eight This weekly closure will be temporary until different citations. KPC recruitment probe panel meets today By A Saleh for the secondary stage, and noted that those interviews had been rescheduled to avoid KUWAIT: The committee entrusted to inves- holding them during the midterm break. tigate suspected violations in Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) appointments New students and promotions will meet today, said Kuwait University’s admission and regis- informed sources, noting that KPC CEO tration dean Dr Ali Faisal Al-Mutairi Hashem Hashem, executives, their deputies announced that the total number of students and managers of subsidiary companies have registered for the second semester due to been invited to attend the meeting. start next Sunday is 33,916 including 1,849 The sources added that the committee new recruits.