Philippines: Negotiations with Kuwait over workers’ wellbeing ‘going well’

The Philippines announced yesterday that negotiations with Kuwait regarding the wellbeing of Filipino workers were “going well”, however the ban on sending more workers to the Gulf state will not be lifted until further action is taken.

The Philippines foreign ministry welcomed the progress made in the negotiations on the bilateral labour agreement with Kuwait and expressed hope that more practical measures will be included in the agreement so that the ban imposed on sending new workers to Kuwait will be removed.

A statement by the Philippines foreign ministry quoted Foreign Affairs Minister, Alan Peter S. Cayetano, as saying: “Our negotiations with Kuwait have so far been going well but we need to put in place more practical measures that would ensure the safety and welfare of our kababayans [countrymen] working there.”

As part of the negotiations, the statement added, the Philippines has been able to secure Kuwait’s commitment that it would guarantee Filipino domestic workers a minimum monthly salary of 120 dinars a month ($398); at least eight hours rest per day; possession of their passports and mobile phones; and limiting their work to only one household.

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