MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine-Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) expressed support to the final draft of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Philippines and Kuwait for the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Arab state.
With this, Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP-ECMI chairman, said they are praying and hoping that both countries will sign it soon.
“We pray and hope the MOA would be signed by Kuwait and our country. We support it as it is beneficial to our OFWs. Their rights would be protected and dignity be promoted,” he said.
The Bataan prelate lauded the approval of the provisions that are favorable to the OFWs.
“As it is just fair and legal that our OFWs keep and hold their passports, to have and use cellphones and enjoy benefits of days off,” Santos said.
“The employers are prevented from contract substitutions, and to make them work for their extended families,” he added.
On Friday, officials from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and their Kuwaiti counterparts have approved the final draft of the MOA after two days of negotiations held at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.
At the same time, Santos urged the officials of the embassy and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to monitor the implementation of the MOA once it is signed.
“(Once it is) signed, we appeal that our government officials to monitor that (the) MOA is strictly followed,” he added.
Last week, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the agreement is set to be signed in two weeks, possibly in Kuwait. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
