Ban of deployment to Kuwait ‘stays permanently’, says Duterte

President Rodrigo Duterte stayed firm with his decision to ban the deployment of overseas Filipino workers in Kuwait as he said that this will be “permanent.”

Duterte made this statement amid the diplomatic tiff between the two countries, the Philippines and Kuwait.

 “No. The ban stays permanently. There will be no more recruitment, especially for domestic helpers. No more,” the President said.

He asked  Pinoys in Kuwait to come home and promised them job opportunities in the Philippines.

He said, if needed he would use emergency funds as he viewed this as a “calamity.”

Duterte also called on professional workers in Kuwait, telling them that if they wish to stay, they may but he reminded them to “cherish and nurture their patriotism.”

However, despite Duterte’s words, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in press conference on Monday that this ban is not really permanent, as it will be lifted once the memorandum of understanding (MOU) is signed.

The said MOU holds the Philippines’ conditions in ending the deployment ban to Kuwait which was a result of the numerous deaths of Filipino helpers in the Gulf State.

Meanwhile, a video circulated online that showed staff from the Philippine embassy rescuing Pinoy workers in Kuwait, encouraging them to flee from their employers’ households.

The Kuwaiti government, displeased with this, said the action was an “intervention in the state domestic affairs and meddling in jurisdictions of the security apparatuses,” and this led them to declare the Philippine ambassador as persona non-grata.