More than a year since official ties were almost cut off by the Philippine government with Kuwait over the death of an OFW, whose body was found inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in the Gulf State, another case surfaces, but the repercussions of another ‘lone’ incident bears far more weight than the last one.
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The reason for this is that following the major issue on the death of Filipina domestic helper, Joanna Demafelis, concerns over the apparent culture of abuse in the Gulf State, as perpetrated not only by citizens but even expat employers have shed light on the lack of legislative control over what residents of the country are able to do as well as their treatment to foreign domestic workers.
Here’s a video from GMA News:
Here’s another report from ABS-CBN News
PH Seeks Justice for Death of Kuwait OFW Constancia Dayag
The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) called out the Kuwaiti government, seeking justice for a Filipina migrant worker who suffered a brutal death allegedly at the hands of her employer in Kuwait, as shared in a report by ABS CBN News.
In a statement, Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III noted that the Kuwait government is responsible for the death of Constancia Lago Dayag, a 47-year-old worker from Agadanan, Isabela.
“I am taking the Kuwaiti government to task for the gruesome death of yet another Filipino worker in the hands of her employer in Kuwait,” Bello expressed.
Bello added that aside from the apparent violation of the agreement on the protection of OFWs between the Philippines and Kuwait, there appears to have been a breach of the employment contract by the foreign employer, as well.
It can be recalled that in 2018, the Philippine government has ordered a deployment ban on Filipino workers going to Kuwait following a series of reported deaths and abuses, including Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer.
Fortunately, the ban has been lifted after the two governments have come up with a deal to ensure the protection of migrant Filipino workers in the Gulf State.
In line with this, Secretary Bello has ordered the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Kuwait to go after the foreign and local agencies which facilitated the deployment of Dayag in the country.
Based on initial reports, Bello shared that the 47-year-old victim was rushed to Al Sabah Hospital last May 14 but was declared dead on arrival, and has also been found to have a ‘cucumber’ inside her private part.
Bello condemned Dayag’s killing and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family, noting that they are doing everything to seek justice for the Filipina’s death.
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