Chargé d’Affaires at the Philippines Embassy, Jose A. Cabrera III, met with Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia Affairs Ambassador Sameeh Issa Johar Hayat, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait, on 9 February, to discuss various aspects of the decision by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) of the Philippines to defer the deployment of first-time Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) coming to work as domestic helpers in Kuwait.

Ambassador Hayat expressed disappointment with the DMW decision and conveyed the desire of the Kuwaiti government to resolve the matter as soon as possible in an amicable manner.For his part, Mr. Cabrera said that the DMW has indicated that the deferment applies only to domestic workers who have not yet been previously employed in Kuwait and are being deployed to Kuwait for the first-time. He added that the DMW is studying reforms and measures to strengthen measures and mechanisms that help ensure the welfare and safety of domestic workers, particularly those working in Kuwait for the first time.

They also discussed the schedule for the Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) between the two countries that…