The Philippines May No Longer Work in Kuwait. The Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte has instituted a ban on working in Kuwait. He does so after the body of a maid, Joanna Demafelis, was found in the freezer of her employer, reports Right News.
Since February, there has been a temporary ban for the Philippines to work in Kuwait, but Duterte now announced a permanent ban. Employees who previously live and work in the country may stay there. The authorities assist the Philippines who wish to return.
The temporary ban was a consequence of the death of a maid, Joanna Demafelis (29). She was found in the freezer in February with her employer, who probably also killed her. The police estimate that Joanna was in the freezer for more than a year.
Joanna is not the only victim, in seven months seven Filipino workers were found dead in Kuwait.
The Philippines and Kuwait negotiated a solution, but Kuwait put the Filipino ambassador out of the country and called back his envoy. Duterte has converted the temporary work ban into a permanent ban.
In total, more than 260,000 Filipinos work in Kuwait, mostly as domestic help or nanny. Foreign income is significant for the Philippines. In total, at least 2 million Philippines work abroad, that is one in ten.
