The preliminary discussions on May 16 and 17 in Kuwait by the visiting Filipino delegation to iron out differences on the resumption of sending domestic workers to Kuwait and Kuwait’s decision to stop issuing visas for Filipinos failed to make a breakthrough, reports Al- Anba daily quoting reliable sources. The sources indicated that a number of members of the delegation have already left the country, indicating that Kuwait rejects the dictates that the government of the Philippines desires and also rejects the special amendments it requests for its workers, whether those dealt with by the visiting delegation or what was put forward in the Philippine Parliament.
The source pointed out that the Kuwaiti law on employment regulates the mechanisms for residing workers of different nationalities, and it is not possible to enact a special law for workers of a specific nationality. This came at the end of the official talks with the concerned authorities in the country at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.
However, the Philippine government delegation affirmed its full respect for Kuwaiti laws, adding that there are more than 200,000 Filipino workers who consider Kuwait their second home, stressing keenness on the development of friendly and historical relations between the two countries. The delegation explained that all measures taken by the Philippine embassy and the Philippine government are only to ensure the safety and well-being of their citizens, stressing that providing protection for citizens of any country abroad is a firm duty of consular offices under international law and agreements.
The members of the delegation expressed their thanks to the Government of Kuwait for its hospitality throughout the delegation’s two-day visit, adding that their country would remain open to constructive dialogue on how to do so in order to address current concerns.
They stated that the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in their country wished to reassure their workers in Kuwait as well as their families by providing them with full government support. The Philippines was represented by senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) as well as its affiliate agency, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Source- Arab Times.
