KUWAIT: The Philippines could finally sign a bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait, similar to the pact the country has with Qatar , if cooperation is achieved between both countries on the issue. This forecast was made yesterday in an interview with the Philippines Labor Attache to Kuwait Vivo Vidal. The remarks were made in relation to the latest reports received from Manila stressing the likeliness of banning Filipino domestic helpers from working abroad citing the newly amended Migrant Workers Act.

According to amendments made, countries that have not entered into such an agreement with the Philippines will not be able to host Filipino workers. In the official gazette, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) noted that Republic Act (RA) 10022, or the Amended Migrant Workers' Act is aimed to intensify protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as they will be deployed in countries where the rights and welfare of migrant workers are protected.

If both (countries) are willing to cooperate, we could sign the new labor agreement soon. But as of now, we are in square one; there's more to talk about and agreed upon, such as complete protection of workers, their welfare, etc. It's all in the table," he said.

The Philippines through Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos last week hinted that Manila could be forced to stop deploying household service workers abroad as early next year as a result of new migrant workers law.

According to Vidal, Kuwait and the Philippines have already expressed readiness to discuss labor related issues, "So I am very optimistic we can also sign bilateral labor agreement with Kuwait similar to what we signed in Qatar in 2008," said Vidal, who was the country's labor attache to Qatar from 2005 to 2009.

Although the Philippines enjoys excellent relations with Kuwait the two countries have not signed a pact on bilateral labor issues, "What we have right now is the mutual understanding based on migration phenomenon. They (Kuwait) need workers; we have the manpower. So we provide them," he said. Vidal added, "What we follow are the prevailing ILO's (International Labor Organizations) standards set among nations, but bilaterally speaking, we don't have it (bilateral agreement) right now.

Asked if a ban (on domestic workers' employment) is possible in the absence of bilateral labor agreement, "I don't think so, it will be impossible. There's a very remote possibility. There are many reasons and repercussions to consider for both sides. I don't think it (the ban) will take place," he said.

The DFA has ordered their embassies abroad to conduct a survey of the countries that fall under their jurisdiction, to find out if the rights of migrant workers are well protected in those countries. Among the criteria to be considered are: if the host country has existing labor and social laws that protects the rights of migrant workers.

If the host country is a signatory to and/or ratifier of multilateral conventions, declarations or resolutions relating to the protection of migrant workers. If the country has concluded a bilateral agreement or arrangement on the protection of the rights of overseas Filipino workers and; the host country is taking positive and concrete measures to implement the first three criteria. - Kuwait Times