Kuwait flag. Agence France-Presse/File

MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is set to implement tighter deployment measures for Filipino workers in Kuwait, following the high-profile deaths of Filipinas Jenny Alvarado and Dafnie Nacalaban in the Middle Eastern country.

Remains of OFW who died in Kuwait to arrive in PH after family received wrong body

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said there was a need to check the qualifications and background of potential employers before they could hire Filipino household service workers.

DFA studying effects of proposed deployment ban to Kuwait

“The standards, yung qualifications, no criminal record, clear track record, and yung financial capacity to pay... Yung mga kasambahay, alam natin dekalidad, at dapat hindi lang basta-basta ang makahire sa kanila. We would also look into the standards, yung qualifications of the employers before they go,” Cacdac said in a televised briefing.

The official said the DMW would also require a virtual meeting between the OFW and their employer prior to deployment to avoid potential misunderstandings or conflict.

DMW eyes suspending deployment to Kuwait following OFW's death

“Ang isang nakikita natin dito sa deployment ng OFWs sa Kuwait, yung worker, pumipirma ng kontrata, nakapangalan doon ang employer. Pero hindi nya kilala ang employer and this is very problematic. Pagdating doon, hindi nya alam ang ugali, posibleng magbreed ng misunderstanding and worse, conflict,” he said.

“So we are producing what we call know your employer, bago pa umalis, may video call na with the employer. Kita na nya ang mukha. And actually, in fairness to the employer, vice versa. Makikilala nya na rin kung sino ang worker na papunta sa kanya," he added. 

Cacdac said the Philippine government would monitor the current situation of Filipina workers who had already been in the country for many years.

“Yung si Jenny kasi and Dafnie kasi are both balik-manggagawa, matagal na sila doon. So we will also implement measures, yung kamustahan, system where mangungumusta tayo na kahit matagal na doon ay pwede pa ring mag-ulat sa atin at makita ang sitwasyon nila electronically,” he said. 

“That’s on top of the measures that we instituted, hindi pwede ang first-timers, and then whitelisting, ng both Kuwaiti recruiter and the Philippine recruiter, and also even the employer. Hindi na pwedeng maulit yung mga naglabag ng karapatan ng mga OFWs.”

RELATED VIDEO:m