The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said it is seeking to come up with a long-term solution while the suspension of entry ban for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait is in effect.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega made the remark following the bilateral talks between Filipino and Kuwaiti officials held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Kuwait last May 16 and May 17.

In a statement, he said that Kuwait officials insisted that the country violated their laws in the 2018 bilateral labor agreement.

”So status quo pa rin. We will need more talks in (the) future,” De Vega added.

He bared that they are exploring solutions that are "long-term".

In a separate statement, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said that during the bilateral meeting, the Philippine delegation expressed their respect for Kuwaiti law and showed appreciation for accepting more than 200,000 Filipino workers.

She asserted that the Philippines prioritizes the safety and well-being of OFWs.

“Providing protection to a country’s citizens abroad is a well-established duty of consular offices under international law and conventions,” Daza said.

Earlier this May, the Kuwait government suspended the issuance of visas for Filipinos, effective immediately until further notice. This move was made ten months after the country enforced a deployment ban in Kuwait.