The labor agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait which seeks to protect the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state has been signed.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary Silvestre Bello III made the announcement upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) along with 87 distressed OFWs from Kuwait late Saturday night, May 12.

Under the deal, OFWs will be allowed to keep their cellphones so they could call for help in cases of emergency. They will also be allowed to have a minimum of 8 hours of sleep and ample food.

Aside from these, OFWs will likewise be asked to have their passports deposited at the Philippine Embassy.

The Kuwaiti government has agreed to create a special unit within their police force which the Embassy can coordinate with in times of emergency calls from OFWs.

A special phone number for OFW assistance will also be set up.

Questions over the possibility of the deal being signed rose after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) conducted an “uncoordinated” rescue of OFWs in the Gulf state which the Kuwaiti government called an “inappropriate behavior”.

The rescue operations led to the expulsion of former Philippine ambassador Renato Villa from Kuwait. Four Filipinos who served as drivers during the operations were arrested and arrest warrants were also served against three Filipino diplomats.

Bello said he will recommend the partial lifting of the deployment ban to Kuwait to President Rodrigo Duterte who has expressed openness to lift the ban.

The deployment ban to Kuwait was imposed following the death of OFW Joanna Demafelis whose body was found stuffed inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in the Gulf state.

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