MANILA — Lawmakers from the women’s party-list group Gabriela on Thursday filed a resolution calling for a congressional probe on the plight of Filipino domestic workers in the Middle East.
Gabriela lawmakers, Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, led the filing of House Resolution No. 1830, which urges the House committee on overseas workers’ affairs to investigate the numerous cases of abuse committed against the household service workers in the Middle East.
They filed the resolution after the Kuwait’s decision to expel Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa following the rescue mission conducted by the Philippine embassy staff to save distressed Filipino workers in Kuwaiti homes.
“We are pushing for an objective and coordinated assessment of the situation of Filipino domestic helpers in the Middle East through a congressional inquiry and on-site visit,” said De Jesus.
According to the resolution, at least 6,000 cases of abuse and maltreatment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been recorded in 2017 in Kuwait alone, with 196 deaths of Filipinos in the Gulf Arab State.
De Jesus said the current programs and interventions addressing the plight of OFWs in the Gulf state should be evaluated.
HR 1830 also calls on the House committee on overseas workers’ affairs to conduct a thorough review of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, Household Service Workers Policy Reform Package, and existing bilateral agreements between the Philippines and Middle East countries. (PNA)
