MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is looking into reviewing the bilateral agreement on Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Protection in Kuwait following the deaths of two Filipinos in the country.

“Hindi po katanggap-tanggap ang paulit-ulit na balita ng pangmamaltrato, pang-aabuso o pagkamatay ng ating mga bagong bayani. Kailangan na pong tuldukan ito,” Sen. Joel Villanueva said in a statement on Monday.

“The government must stop the abuse in its tracks by strengthening recruitment policy and ensuring that host countries comply with bilateral agreements on the welfare and rights of OFWs,” he said.

The statement came after authorities reported that two Filipinos, Jenny Alvarado and Dafnie Nacalaban died in Kuwait.

Alvarado reportedly died due to “coal suffocation” while Nacalaban went missing in October and was later found decomposing after two months.

The bilateral agreement with Kuwait was signed in 2018 in the wake of deaths of Filipinos in the foreign land and was later renewed in 2021. 

In 2023, Kuwait suspended the issuance of new visas to Filipinos following the death of Julleebee Ranara which also prompted the Philippines to halt sending OFWs to Kuwait.

“We cannot be reactive and rely on a ban-lift-ban cycle of OFW deployment,” Villanueva said.

Under the signed agreement with Kuwait,  Filipinos have the right to keep their passports and mobile phones and the right to guaranteed provision of food, housing and health insurance by employers.

Villanueva said the strict enforcement of the bilateral labor agreement and adherence to international laws are “critical in preventing abuses of migrant workers.”

If needed, he said a review of the agreement could be initiated to ensure that they serve the best interest of the Filipino workers.

“Every OFW we allow to work in a foreign land must be assured of a safe workplace, decent living condition, timely payment of correct wage and benefits, and must be able to return to their families alive and with gainful income worthy of their sacrifices,” Villanueva added.