By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured on Tuesday, Jan. 17, that it is working with Kuwaiti authorities to bring home distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“Our department’s goal is to reduce the number of welfare cases in Kuwait in partnership with the private sector and Kuwaiti government, while bringing home and assisting as many distressed OFWs as possible,” DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople said.
According to Ople’s, DMW officials, led by Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), met with Kuwaiti government officials in Kuwait.
Dr. Fahad Alu Murad, head of the Public Authority for Manpower, Amala (Labor Court) Deputy Officer Fahad Alkandari, and Talha Deportation Center General Walid Al Ali.
Officials discussed ways to help distressed OFWs, particularly runaway domestic workers.
The special DMW mission also examined alternative buildings in Kuwait that could shelter distressed OFWs.
“The secretary also gave instructions that the new shelter should have enough room for learning sessions that can be offered to residents on financial literacy, mental wellness and TESDA courses for skills upgrades,” Cacdac said.
“Secretary Ople gave explicit instructions that all these distressed OFWs would have to come home with the needs of their respective families also attended to by our department,” he added.
Cacdac said at least 310 distressed OFWs are set to bring home from Kuwait.
“Secretary Ople gave explicit instructions that all these distressed OFWs would have to come home with the needs of their respective families also attended to by our department,” he added. – gb
READ MORE: Ople sends DMW officials to check on conditions of OFWs in Kuwait
