Nancy seeks assurance for Kuwait OFW assistance

Senator Nancy Binay today sought assurance from the departments of labor and foreign affairs that they would provide assistance to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are affected by the diplomatic row between the Philippines and Kuwait.

"I am calling on the DFA, DOLE and OWWA to ensure that OFWs affected by the permanent employment ban on Kuwait will not have to come home empty-handed," said Binay who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development.

"Dala ng hirap ng buhay dito sa ating bansa kaya napakarami sa ating mga kababayan ang napipilitang makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa. Sana ay matulungan natin ang mga apektado ng deployment ban sa Kuwait upang magkaroon ng hanapbuhay sa kanilang pag-uwi dito," she added.

The senator is concerned that while the government has already identified where it would get funding for the repatriation of some 260,000 Filipinos working in Kuwait, there was little information available whether funding was also set aside for their employment.

"Nabanggit na ang paggugol pondo mula sa China upang maiuwi natin ang mga kababayan natin sa Kuwait. Ang tanong naman pagkatapos nito ay saan natin kukunin ang perang gugugulin ng gobyerno para sila ay suportahan 'pag dating nila dito sa bansa," said Binay.

"As a mother, I understand why many of our OFWs would be afraid to leave their jobs in Kuwait. Takot silang umuwi at mawalan ng trabaho. Iniisip nila saan nila kukunin ang pambayad sa tuition ng mga anak nila," she added.

The senator expressed fear that without government assistance, repatriated OFWs would be susceptible to efforts to smuggle them back into the Middle Eastern country.

"We need to ensure that their needs are met and that they will soon find employment. This is the only way we can protect them from unscrupulous individuals or groups that may prey on them," Binay stressed.

"Pagtulung-tulungan po sana ng ating DFA, DOLE at OWWA upang mabigyan ng tulong ang lahat ng mga kababayan natin sa Kuwait. Hindi lamang ang kanilang pagbabalik dito sa bansa ang kailangan nating paghandaan kung hindi maging ang kawalan ng kanilang hanapbuhay. Nakasalalay dito ang mga naipundar ng maraming OFWs na nakapag-establish na ng negosyo, may magandang career at pamilya," the senator urged.