Silvestre Bello III announces the partial lifting of the deployment ban of OFWs to Kuwait

Lifted is the deployment ban for skilled, semi skilled, professional workers, new and returning OFWs

Retained is the deployment ban for household service workers, both new and returning OFWs.

Partial lifting of the deployment ban effective immediately.

Last week, Bello met with Kuwaiti officials and agreed on a standard employment contract to ensure the welfare and protection of OFWs.

Also present at that meeting were Labor Undersecretary Claro Arellano, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head Hans Leo Cacdac, and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) chief Bernard Olalia.

Under the standard employment contract, employers are prohibited from keeping any of the worker’s personal identity documents, such as passports.

Workers would also be entitled to use their phones outside working hours provided that they would respect the privacy of their employer’s household.

The contract also provides that OFWs would be entitled to a paid full-day weekly break and would not be forced to work for more than 12 hours a day.

Workers should have no less than a one-hour break after five consecutive hours of work at least eight hours of sleep.

Employers are also prohibited from assigning a domestic worker outside of Kuwait or transferring him to another employer without the OFW’s written consent.

Otherwise, the worker will be repatriated to the Philippines at the expense of the employer.

Under the contract, employers are also mandated to ensure an acceptable quality of living for workers and to provide the medical treatment and nursing by registering the OFWs in the health system applicable in Kuwait.

“The harmonized employment contract should be retroactive and effective immediately,” Bello said.