Kuwait, Manila Come Together on Regulating Foreign Labor

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, wearing a military uniform, gestures as he attends the 67th founding anniversary of the First Scout Ranger regiment in San Miguel town, Bulacan province, north of Manila, Philippines November 24, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, wearing a military uniform, gestures as he attends the 67th founding anniversary of the First Scout Ranger regiment in San Miguel town, Bulacan province, north of Manila, Philippines November 24, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
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Kuwait, Manila Come Together on Regulating Foreign Labor

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, wearing a military uniform, gestures as he attends the 67th founding anniversary of the First Scout Ranger regiment in San Miguel town, Bulacan province, north of Manila, Philippines November 24, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, wearing a military uniform, gestures as he attends the 67th founding anniversary of the First Scout Ranger regiment in San Miguel town, Bulacan province, north of Manila, Philippines November 24, 2017. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

Kuwait Announced on Monday arriving to an agreement with Philippine authorities on regulating foreign labor forces in the Gulf state.

The agreement comes a month later to the labor crisis which led the Philippine government to stop all workers from traveling to Kuwait.

Kuwait Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said he had agreed with Philippine authorities to conclude an agreement regulating the conditions of Filipino employment in Kuwait, adding that this was “at the will of the Philippine authorities.”

Jarallah revealed a visit by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Kuwait next March upon the official invitation of Kuwait Ruler Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Jarallah told reporters at the National Assembly on Monday after a meeting of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee that he had agreed with Philippine authorities to conclude an agreement regulating the conditions of Filipino employment in Kuwait.

He added that Philippine authorities submitted a proposal for the agreement between the two countries, and was examined by relevant bodies in Kuwait.
“We are well on the way to calm matters, if we have not already reached did,” said Jarallah.

“We have made it clear to Philippine authorities that these accusations and information have no basis whatsoever, and do not reflect the nature of the situation of the Filipino employment in Kuwait, and are basically unacceptable," he said.

The Filipino community in Kuwait is estimated at 250,000, with 65 percent (165,000 workers) of which are employed in household labor.

Manila has stepped up its rhetoric after allegations of ill-treatment of Filipino workers in Kuwait.

On January 19, the Philippine Labor Minister announced the suspension of sending employment to Kuwait.

President Duterte said he was considering preventing workers from going to Kuwait because Manila had recently lost four women there, referring to domestic workers allegedly have been the victims of abused and who had committed suicide.



UAE, Egypt Stress Need for Unimpeded Delivery of Aid to Gaza

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)
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UAE, Egypt Stress Need for Unimpeded Delivery of Aid to Gaza

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates and Egypt stressed on Thursday the need for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received in Abu Dhabi on Thursday Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for talks on bilateral relations and means to bolster them to meet their nations’ aspirations.

They reviewed the latest regional and international developments and welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner and hostage exchange.

They underlined their keenness on the full implementation of the deal to help end the bloodshed of the Palestinian people.

Both leaders reaffirmed the need for continued efforts to implement the two-state solution in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, recognizing it as the pathway to achieving lasting and comprehensive peace and stability in the region.

Sheikh Mohamed hailed Egypt’s strenuous mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire, said an Egyptian presidency spokesman.

The leaders also addressed the developments in Lebanon, welcoming the election of Joseph Aoun as president, hoping it will help restore stability in the country.

They emphasized the need to consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon to protect its people.

On Syria, Sheikh Mohamed and Sisi underscored their keenness on the country’s unity and stability. They stressed the importance of the launch of a comprehensive and inclusive political process.

The leaders discussed meens to restore stability in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.