Philippines to review employment contracts with Kuwait

The Philippine government said Saturday it will take steps to assess and prevent abuses including rape and maltreatment of Filipino workers in Kuwait, after a housemaid was killed and dumped in a desert in the country. The remains of Jullebee Ranara were flown home Friday night from Kuwait, where the 35-year-old was reportedly killed by her employer’s son then dumped with burn marks, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said.

The Philippines’ Ministry of Migrant Labor called for the need to review the employment agreements concluded with Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily.

Toots Ople said, “Despite this crime, Manila is not considering suspending sending workers to Kuwait. It will instead seek additional protection for its workers there.”

In an official statement, the Ministry of Labor declared, “The labor agreements concluded between us and Kuwait should be reviewed. We must strengthen the protection mechanism for our workers. “We will not allow such violations and abuses to be repeated. The ministry has already begun examining and studying other violations and abuses that workers may have been exposed to in Kuwait.

“The statement indicated that the ministry has delegated a Kuwaiti lawyer to represent the Philippines in the murder case, adding, “We will have to move within the limits of the Kuwaiti judicial system.” In addition, Kuwait’s Public Prosecution affirmed that it initiated investigation procedures and took legal measures in the case