The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac assured last week that the Philippine government is committed to pursuing justice for the slain overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait.
Cacdac said the case is under close monitoring, with Kuwaiti authorities having the prime suspect in custody. Legal support is being provided by a lawyer on the ground to ensure the prosecution of the suspect and the attainment of justice.
The victim, who had been working in Kuwait for five years, was employed by two different employers during her stay. Cacdac noted that she had recently transferred to her second employer. Her original employer was not the one who reported her absconding or the termination of her employment, which was officially recorded on October 16. October also marked the last known communication between the victim and her family.
After losing contact, the victim’s family initially assumed she was preoccupied with work. No formal complaints or reports were filed with the DMW regarding her situation. On December 28, Kuwaiti authorities discovered her remains, bringing the tragic case to light.
Cacdac revealed that the prime suspect has a criminal record in Kuwait, but the exact circumstances and motive for the crime are still being investigated. He assured the victim’s family that her remains would be repatriated once investigative procedures are completed.
The Philippine government will provide financial assistance for the victim’s burial and other related expenses. Additional aid is being coordinated through the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office in Kuwait.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Filipino workers in Kuwait, particularly regarding employment transfers.
In response, the government has implemented stricter measures for deploying OFWs to Kuwait, including enhanced monitoring of recruitment practices and requiring prior experience for deployment. Policies will also be reviewed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Kabayan Party-list Representative Ron Salo expressed apprehension about illegal employment transfers among OFWs.
Addressing these concerns, Cacdac emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to improve guidelines for employment transfers, increase accessibility for workers to report changes in employment, and tighten regulations to safeguard OFWs.