KUWAIT CITY, Sept 16: Despite the arrival of 11 Filipino domestic workers, their return to Kuwait continues to face obstacles due to three ‘impossible’ demands by the Philippine Embassy. Khaled Al-Dukhnan, the President of the Domestic Labor Offices Union, reaffirmed to Al-Seyassah daily that the problem persists without any resolution. Al-Dukhnan stated only 6 domestic labor offices are allowed to recruit workers from the Philippines, out of 366 registered offices, meaning 360 offices remain idle.

He added that a delegation from the Union’s board, along with representatives of the Philippine Federation, met with Undersecretary of the Philippine Department of Labor Olalia and Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers Felicis K.B. to discuss the reasons behind the complications and delays in issuing ‘job orders’ for Kuwaiti offices by the Philippine labor attaché office in Kuwait. He explained that they highlighted the difficulty Kuwaiti offices face in obtaining “job orders” due to the embassy’s impossible demands, including requiring Kuwaiti office owners to provide entry and exit records for workers, which is impossible as it is not within the scope of recruitment offices but rather it is the responsibility of the relevant government authorities or through personal authorization from the worker.

Al-Dukhnan added, that the embassy demands that Kuwaiti offices track the whereabouts of workers who have been reported ‘absent’ or have fl ed from their sponsors. This is an impossible request, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior, which is actively handling the matter. He also pointed out another demand, which is to pay end-of-service benefits and overdue salaries to workers who have been repatriated or are about to be repatriated by their sponsors without receiving their entitlements. This issue is governed by Law No. 68 of 2015 regarding domestic workers, and the labor offices have no role in this matter.

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff