President Rodrigo Duterte is poised to visit Kuwait next month to witness the signing of an agreement that will protect thousands of Filipino workers in the Gulf state, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Wednesday.
“We [diplomats] are preparing for the trip. April is too tight, so the earliest is May,” Cayetano said.
The Philippines has asked Kuwait to help the repatriation of almost 1,000 Filipinos stranded in shelters, for some 200 more to be rescued from abusive employers, and for the Kuwaiti government to act on specific cases of abuse, the secretary added.
“We want to see immediate action on that,” Cayetano said. “This time is for Kuwait to show its goodwill and to help us implement all these.”
Duterte, the secretary added, has made it clear he would not witness the signing or allow the signing without the following provisions: the non-confiscation of passports, fair and good labor conditions, and granting of rest day for the workers.
This developed as Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa announced that the Kuwaiti Department of Immigration, under the Ministry of Interior, has officially declared Thursday, April 19, as the last day for Filipinos to file their application for the amnesty program set to expire on April 22.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait earlier set April 12 as deadline for amnesty registration given that processing of documents takes at least 10 days to finish.
After it lapsed, the Department of Foreign Affairs assured they will pull all resources to bring home all nationals who will still apply after April 12.
However, the Kuwaiti government notified the embassy of its decision on the last day of submission.
“The Kuwaiti Immigration department confirmed just this week that it will accept application for amnesty only until Thursday,” the ambassador said.
The Department of Immigration said it will also assess if the applicant has no case and only then that an exit permit can be granted.
Together with the DFA, the embassy is urging all undocumented Filipinos in the Gulf state to rush to the embassy at Blk 1, St 101, Villa 817, Al-Siddeeq Area, to avail of the program.
The envoy reminded Filipinos that the crackdown against illegal workers will begin on April 23.
As this developed, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had repatriated 175 more OFWs Filipinos on Wednesday (April 18) under the amnesty program.
The new batch of OFWs is set to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board Qatar Airways flight QR 934, with estimated time of arrival at 6:15 a.m. (Manila time) today.
Of the 175 repatriates, 18 are infants, the DFA said.
On Monday, April 16, the Philippine Embassy bought more than 200 plane tickets for those who availed themselves of the amnesty.
Raul Dado, executive director for DFA-Office of Migrant Workers Affairs, said only 191 of them arrived in Manila on Tuesday, nine did not show up, and one infant offloaded en route to the Kuwait International Airport.
Earlier, DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola said the agency is pushing to repatriate all those who recently registered at the amnesty program on or before April 22.
For OFWs Mark and Aiza (not their real names), Kuwait’s amnesty and the repatriation program of the Philippine government served as “sign” to start a new life.
Mark has been working as a bartender at the Gulf state for 17 years, until he got caught in a conflict with his sponsor, who allegedly framed him, in the past three years. During this period, he was left undocumented and at risk of arrest.
With the amnesty that served as a “sign” to start anew, Mark said he decided to come home.
“Inisip ko na rin yung kapakanan ng anak ko, kasi pagkatapos ng amnesty, magkakaroon na ng crackdown ang Kuwait, mahirap nang ipagsapalaran yung buhay naming mag-ama rito [I thought of my child’s welfare. There will be crackdown after the amnesty. It would be difficult to stay and live here],” he said in an interview.
Mark and his daughter were among the repatriates who arrived in Manila on Tuesday (April 17).
“Kaloob na rin siguro ng Panginoon na maka-uwi kaming mag-ama [It is perhaps God’s will that we get back home],” he added.
This was the same sentiment of Aiza, who had been working in Kuwait for nine years as a household worker. The Filipina said she wanted to start her life over again after she birthed her child in the Gulf state a year ago.
With one more mouth to feed and allegedly overworked under the hands of her employer, Aida said the amnesty and the repatriation were welcome opportunities she has been waiting for.
“Mag-i-i-stay na ako sa Pilipinas after nito… para na rin sa anak ko [I will stay in the Philippines for my child],” she said.