The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has lifted the country’s deployment ban on overseas migrant workers in India and the processing of both new hires and rehires may proceed.
Based on the Advisory No. 2 series of 2023 dated Jan. 19 signed by Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, the DMW sought the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) based on the numerous requests for consideration from concerned workers.
The advisory said that based on the DMW’s request, the DFA provided the following as bases to consider the appeals.
First, India has passed labor and social laws protecting workers’ rights that include migrants. Second is that India is a party to core labor conventions; and the third consideration states that “although there is no bilateral labor agreement between the Philippines and India, there is already an ongoing negotiation on providing Filipino migrant workers social security coverage.”
The DMW said in lifting the deployment ban, processing of employment contracts may proceed provided that these are duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in India. However, the advisory clarifies that the lifting of the deployment ban does not include household service workers until India is fully certified as a compliant country under Republic Act 8402 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, as amended by Republic Act 10022.
The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait meanwhile is working on the release of Jullebee Cabilis Ranara’s remains, which were found charred with the victim’s skull smashed in the desert over the weekend.
The burnt corpse recovered by the Kuwaiti police at Salmi, Al-Jarah Governorate on Jan. 21 has been identified as the remains of Ranara, a 35-year-old Filipino national employed as a household service worker in the Gulf state.
In a statement Wednesday, the embassy confirmed that the suspect has also been arrested and detained by the local police.
The embassy said it will coordinate with the Kuwaiti government for the release of the body to be repatriated soon.
“The Embassy and the Filipino community in Kuwait extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late Ms. Ranara as they mourn the loss of their loved one,” it said. Investigations are ongoing, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior said.
