The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is considering a ban on sending overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Kuwait following the recent deaths of two OFWs, Dafnie Nacalaban and Jenny Alvarado.
Nacalaban was reported missing by her second employer in October and was later found dead at the residence of a Kuwaiti national. Meanwhile, Alvarado died from coal smoke inhalation at her workplace, along with her Nepalese and Sri Lankan colleagues. To make matters worse, the wrong body was initially sent back to the Philippines.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac revealed that the possibility of a deployment ban has been discussed with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. While the specifics are not yet clear, the ban could apply to certain categories of workers, such as domestic helpers, or potentially to all Filipino workers in Kuwait.
Currently, the Philippines prohibits first-time domestic workers from being deployed to Kuwait. Cacdac also mentioned the possibility of imposing stricter regulations for OFW deployments to the Gulf country. “If our review finds that a suspension of deployment will help, we will implement it,” Cacdac said, emphasizing that the welfare and safety of OFWs are a top priority, though employment opportunities also need to be taken into account.
With approximately 215,000 OFWs in Kuwait, any decision would have a significant impact on many Filipino families who rely on remittances. The DMW is conducting further assessments to determine the best course of action.