Manila: After the issuance of visas for Filipinos was suspended, the Philippine government stated on Friday that it was seeking a diplomatic resolution and "maximum protection" for its employees in Kuwait.
About 290,000 Filipinos, mostly women, are employed in Kuwait, which has recently come under scrutiny by Philippine authorities due to a number of abuse allegations and the murder of a Filipino maid. As a result, Manila suspended the deployment of new employees to the Gulf state in February.
According to a statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Kuwait's government had "suspended the issuance of new entry visas for PH nationals into Kuwait effective immediately until further notice."
Also Read: Remains of woman reported lost on April 30 is discovered in the River Thames
According to Eduardo De Vega, the DFA's Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the government has not yet decided how to handle the circumstance.
"Everything can be discussed and settled diplomatically, in a way that will provide the greatest protection and unrestricted access to justice for our nationals in Kuwait," he said.
The following steps will be discussed by various government agencies. Although the ban on the Philippines sending new workers to Kuwait overlaps with the suspension of new visas, DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said the measure also applies to tourist, business, and student visas. There is now a ban for those who will be entering Kuwait for the first time,"
Also Read: Refugee settlements in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh is prepare for Cyclone Mocha
At the same time, there is a guarantee that you will be permitted entry into Kuwait as long as you have a residence visa, or iqama.
A delegation from the Philippines was scheduled to visit the Gulf state soon, though the reasons for the suspension were not immediately clear.
"Hopefully, we'll be able to visit Kuwait in the coming weeks. There were scheduled meetings with Kuwait, not necessarily to discuss this matter but rather our bilateral labour agreement, according to Cortes.
"As always, the Philippines strives to amicably settle and resolve any bilateral disputes with any nation. And we must take this action in order to safeguard the interests of the remaining Filipinos.
Thousands of them, according to the Philippine Employment Agencies and Associates for Corporate Employees in the Middle East, or PEACEME, will be impacted by the visa suspension.
According to PEACEME president Arnold Mamaclay, "with the announcement, we can no longer deploy in Kuwait... those who were already interviewed and selected by employers, we can no longer apply for visas for them."
The group will make an effort to place them in work in other Middle Eastern nations.
"We will have to support them if there are jobs available for them in other markets. However, there is no assurance, Mamaclay said.
If the candidates match what our clients in other nations and industries need, that will ultimately depend on them.
