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Kuwait bans entry visa, work visa for Filipinos

12 May 2023

Kuwait has suspended all types of work and entry visas for Filipinos, following the violation of a bilateral labour deal with the country, said sources from Interior Ministry.

The Interior Ministry, Sheikh Talal al-Khaled al-Sabah, has ordered visa pause after a breach without providing any further details.

The suspension was due to Philippines not having adhered to the provisions of labour law between the two countries.

In the month of February, Philippines barred first-time workers, particularly domestic workers from entering Kuwait, following the murder of a 35-year-old Filipina maid by the teenage son of her Kuwaiti employer.

The Philippines government also had recently suspended the accreditation of new recruitment agencies in Kuwait.

About 268,000 Filipino workers are employed in Kuwait. As per the data from Department of Migrant Workers, there were over 24,000 cases of violation and abuse against Filipino workers in 2022 alone.

In the month of January, Migrant Workers Secretary, Susan Ople, said that a team of officials would be travelling to Kuwait to investigate the rising cases of abuse against Filipino workers, and to work with Kuwaiti officials to take preventative measures.

Among the common complaints filed by Filipinos are sexual abuse, rape, human trafficking, labour contract violations and illegal terminations.

Reports said that domestic workers in the country are also facing delayed or unpaid salaries, long work hours, uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, and confiscation of their passports and personal belongings.

Robin Vinod

Writer/blogger who writes on topics such as travel, real estate, employment and everyday life on GCC countries.

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