Kuwait Lifts Visa Ban on Filipino Workers
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Kuwait has ended a year-long ban on issuing entry and work visas to Filipino nationals and has reopened recruitment of Filipino domestic workers with previous overseas experience.
Announcement by Kuwait's Ministry of Interior
The decision was announced by Kuwait's Ministry of Interior, marking a significant development in bilateral relations between Kuwait and the Philippines.
Bilateral Meeting Results in Agreement
The decision follows a recent bilateral meeting between Kuwaiti and Philippine officials at Seif Palace. The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, highlighting Kuwait's commitment to resolving labor-related issues.
KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait said Monday it would lift a visa ban on domestic workers from the Philippines after a year-long suspension sparked by a row over the rights of employers and employees.
— The Manila Times (@TheManilaTimes) June 25, 2024
READ: https://t.co/L6gYsAKbuM pic.twitter.com/1GaYjbVQAO
Establishment of Joint Committee
During the meeting, both sides agreed to establish a joint technical working committee. This committee will convene regularly to address employment matters and other mutual concerns, reinforcing commitments made under the 2018 Domestic Workers Employment Agreement.
Background on the Ban
Kuwait halted new visas for Philippine nationals on May 10 last year following tensions over the murder of domestic worker Jullebee Ranara. Her burned body was discovered in the Kuwaiti desert in January 2023, prompting Manila to cease sending new workers to Kuwait.
Previously, in 2020, the Philippines reinstated a ban on its citizens working in Kuwait after another Filipina was allegedly killed by her employer. This echoed a 2018 conflict between the two nations, triggered by the discovery of a murdered Filipina maid's body in her employer's freezer.