KUWAIT CITY, Nov 26: The Philippines is expected to allow Filipino workers to return to Kuwait in the first quarter of the upcoming year. Talks between Kuwaiti and Filipino authorities are scheduled for early next month, with the goal of lifting the ban that was imposed in May. The discussions will involve the Philippine Ministry of Labor, private employment agencies, and the Kuwaiti side, focusing on reviewing the domestic workers agreement and outlining procedures for the resumption of sending Filipino workers to Kuwait.

Bassam Al-Shammari, a specialist in the field of domestic workers, expressed optimism about this development. He welcomed the potential return of Filipino workers, emphasizing that the timing aligns well with the upcoming month of Ramadan, during which there is a heightened demand for domestic workers, reports Al Rai. This development follows a series of events, including a visa suspension in May 2023, which came after the Philippines temporarily halted sending new domestic workers to Kuwait in February 2023 following the murder of Filipino worker Jullebee Ranara. The Philippine government announced that it would take steps to assess and prevent abuses, particularly "rape and ill-treatment of Filipina workers" in Kuwait