Philippines apologizes for Kuwait for rescue of Filipino workers

April 24, 2018

The Philippines on Tuesday apologized to Kuwait the country protested a move to rescue dozens of Filipino workers reportedly abused by their employers.

"I apologize to my counterpart. We apologize to the Kuwaiti government , Kuwaiti people and leaders of Kuwait if they were offended by some actions taken by the Philippine embassy in Kuwait," Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters.

Cayetano conveyed the Philippine government's apology in a meeting with Kuwait's ambassador, saying the actions were done "in the spirit of emergency to protect Filipinos."

"There's life and death to our nationals so action has to be swift and action has to be given right away," Cayetano said. He said Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines  Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh "has accepted this explanation."

Cayetano said he will be sending a formal written apology to the Kuwaiti government.

“Again, we are apologizing for certain incidents that the Kuwaiti view as violation of their sovereignty. But we explained to them that these acts, we felt, were necessary in saving and protecting Filipino lives,” Cayetano said.

“The protection of Filipinos is a red line that we will always fight for. But they also want us to understand that we can not just take any action that we want.”

He told Kuwait the Philippine government “will follow their laws and that we will respect Kuwaiti sovereignty and uphold the dignity of their state by acting within the bounds of law and international law.”

Kuwait, for its part, guaranteed the continued protection of Filipino workers and agreed to work with Manila to enforce mechanisms or guidelines for Philippines nationals needing immediate assistance.

“Whatever issues, we have agreed to work together,” Cayetano said.

Kuwait earlier filed diplomatic protests against the Philippine government for undertaking series of rescue operations for Filipino workers who were in trouble with their employers or who sought the embassy’s assistance on various issues.

Cayetano said there was no request from Kuwait to expel Manila’s ambassador there.

Cayetano said the Philippine government vowed to “work closer” with Kuwaiti police, which is authorized to go to communities and households.

Coordination with Kuwait authorities has started, with the embassy informing them that more than 100 Filipinos have asked assistance on various consular concerns, including removal from abusive employers, he said.

Cayetano called on Filipinos to report abusive employers thru the embassy’s 24-hour hotline and assured them help will be given swiftly.

Kuwait is a major labor destination for Filipinos in the Middle East, with over 250,000 working there, mostly as domestic helpers.

Cayetano said abuses against Filipinos are “not widespread,” but stressed that is “not an isolated event.”

Reports and incidents of abuses against Filipino workers prompted Manila to enforce a deployment ban early this year.

Since the ban, meetings and consultations have taken place between the two sides in Manila and in Kuwait.

A labor agreement that will provide protection to thousands of Filipino workers is expected to be signed next month, Cayetano said. DMS