The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has begun distributing financial assistance on Thursday to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the visa suspension in Kuwait
Earlier, the DMW announced that each OFW who was unable to fly to Kuwait, despite being issued a certificate of employment, would receive a cash aid amounting to P30,000.
The aim of this financial assistance is to help the OFWs recover their expenses and start anew, possibly through small businesses.
Efforts are also underway to find new job opportunities for the OFWs through job matching based on their skills.
Work and new entry visas to Kuwait remain suspended following two days of negotiations between Kuwaiti officials and the Philippine delegation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and DMW.
According to the Kuwaiti government, the Philippines violated the labor agreement by establishing OFW shelters in Kuwait. However, the Philippines insists that these shelters are necessary for the protection of our fellow countrymen.
DMW Undersecretary Hans Cacdac led the distribution of aid at the agency's office in Mandaluyong, while Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople is currently in Saudi Arabia, working on securing backpay for the thousands of displaced OFWs.
