The Kafala System has drawn criticism for many years. Because of this, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is thinking of suspending the deployment of Filipino workers to countries that are still using the Kafala system.
Silvestre Bello III, Labor and Employment Secretary confirmed the said statement following the remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte that he wanted the system to be removed ‘sooner rather than later.’
“They know if the President makes a call for the protection of OFWs, and it is not followed, our direction is to suspend or at least slow down the deployment of OFWs,” Secretary Bello said.
For countries following the Kafala system, foreign workers will be required to get their sponsors first before they can be employer directly from their host country.
President Duterte thinks that this scheme is ‘unjust and exploitative’ because it allows the sponsors to have full control of their workers.
Kafala system is practiced mostly by Gulf countries like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. But, these two countries are also starting to abolish such an employment scheme.
“I think Middle East countries will grant the request of our President,” Bello confirmed.
Source BusinessMirror
