Marcos nixes total ban on deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Friday (May 26) said he is not keen on imposing a total ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait.

He is responding to the call of Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas to totally ban OFW deployment to the Middle Eastern country due to “heinous crimes committed” on Filipino migrant workers.

“I’m never very comfortable with banning people like that because it’s like you’re saying that banning is forever, it’s not possible anymore,” Marcos said in an interview with reporters in Manila.

Marcos, however, noted that it was Kuwait that prohibited the deployment of OFWs to their country as the Gulf state suspended its issuance of new visas to Filipinos due to alleged failure of the Philippines to comply with labour agreements.

He said that while the Philippine government is taking Kuwait’s decision as it is, it will continue to negotiate and consult with the Middle Eastern nation in the hopes that the situation may change.

“Maybe down the road the situation changes, our workers can be brought back now. Hopefully down the road, we will continue to work to improve that situation,” Marcos said.