KUWAIT CITY, Jan 27: Philippine media reported that Kuwait featured prominently in a recent dialogue organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) with recruitment agencies employing Filipino workers across Gulf countries. The meeting aimed to address pressing concerns, propose enhanced measures, and strengthen protections for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly domestic workers.

During the discussion, recruitment agencies proposed several key recommendations, including incorporating strict and clear job descriptions in employment contracts, reducing the duration of contracts from two years to one, increasing salaries for domestic workers, and involving families of OFWs in pre-departure awareness seminars to educate them on the risks and opportunities of working abroad.

Both the DMW and recruitment agencies reaffirmed their shared commitment to safeguarding the welfare of OFWs. The department pledged to incorporate the feedback from the dialogue into policy reforms, potentially introducing stricter recruitment measures to prevent exploitation and abuse.

The DMW also called on recruitment agencies to intensify monitoring of workers’ conditions abroad, respond swiftly to emergencies, and ensure the safe return of workers upon contract completion. Agencies were urged to report foreign recruitment firms found violating rules to prevent future cases of abuse.

“Our goal is not merely to formulate policies but to protect our workers and save lives,” stated Patricia Yvonne Caunan, Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation for Migrant Workers, who led the dialogue. She emphasized that OFW welfare remains at the heart of the department's initiatives.

Caunan explained that the dialogue is part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to conduct a comprehensive review of recruitment guidelines, particularly in the Gulf region, to ensure the safety and well-being of OFWs, especially those most vulnerable.