Only President Duterte can lift ban on Filipinos going to work in Kuwait

The Labour and Employment Ministry in the Philippines has announced that only President Rodrigo Duterte can lift the country’s ban on sending Filipino workers to Kuwait. The ban was imposed following the murder of a Filipino maid by her employers in the Gulf state.

“We will wait and see what the Kuwaiti government will do,” explained Labour Minister Sylvester Bello. “If Kuwait signs a memorandum of understanding to protect Filipino workers abroad, it is possible that the President will lift the ban.”

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Ambassador to Kuwait, Renato Villa, announced on Sunday that he has heard from a security official in Kuwait that the authorities intend to charge Nader Essam Assaf, a Lebanese national, and his Syrian wife, Mona Hassoun, with the murder of their maid. Joanna Demafelis was found dead in a domestic freeze.

Villa told CNN Philippines that an extradition request will be made, although this may face problems from the Lebanese and Syrian authorities.

Read: Body of maid found dead in Kuwait freezer repatriated