Labor department looking at imposing deployment bans to other countries

February 28, 2018

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is looking at imposing deployment bans to countries similar to the one on Kuwait due to reported rampant cases of maltreatment and abuse of Overseas Filipino Workers.

“We will impose the same restrictions (like in Kuwait) and will consider deployment ban if strengthened protection of our OFWs was not assured,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said.

“The minimum demand of our president is that we will only deploy in countries where our workers are properly and effectively protected,” he added.

One country which could be eyed is Saudi Arabia, where the kafala system is not unusual, said Bello.

“For example, in Saudi, it is a common malpractice that the employer trades or switch their worker to other employers,” noted Bello.

Under the kafala or sponsorship system, the sponsor-employer has the entire control over the mobility of the migrant worker.

An OFW cannot quit or transfer jobs without first obtaining the consent of his employer. “This practically places the OFW at the mercy of his employer,” Bello pointed.

Asked if a deployment ban may be imposed in countries with existing bilateral agreements with the country, he said it will depend on the other country.

“If there is an existing bilateral labor agreement but there are still rampant cases of maltreatment, then maybe we need to amend the agreement,” said Bello. DMS