MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has made the ban on the deployment of new migrant workers to Kuwait permanent following a tense diplomatic row over the rescue of distressed Filipinos by the Philippine Embassy. Other labor marketsIt is not clear whether the Philippine government would still push for a bilateral agreement seeking to improve the working conditions of about 10,000 Filipino workers in Kuwait. Last February, Duterte announced a ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait following reports that some workers in the Gulf state were maltreated by their employers. Last week, videos showing Philippine embassy staff rescuing Filipino workers from their employers, prompting the Kuwaiti government to expel Philippine Ambassador Pedro Villa. Duterte: I take full responsibilityDuterte took responsibility for the diplomatic squabble and insisted that he has no bitterness toward Kuwait.

Source: Philippine Star April 29, 2018 02:55 UTC