Coronavirus, COVID-19
CORONAVIRUS: KUWAIT OFW QUARANTINE DAY #89 – Providing Employment to the Repatriated OFWs
June 8, 2020
“The true charity is not giving bread or money, but providing employment.”
Ilkin Santak
Repatriating one’s citizens and residents are evident within the countries. In the case of our displaced OFWs, many of their jobs were lost due to COVID-19 disease. However, the private sectors, together with the Philippine government, always have a plan to give them employment while they are in the country to support their families.
In Kuwait, the Ministry of Health registered 662 new COVID-19 cases with five additional deaths and 1,037 recoveries. It brings to a total record of 32,510 cases with 269 fatalities and 21,242 recovered cases. Within the new cases, 340 are Kuwait citizens, 122 are Indian residents, 46 are Egyptian residents, and 36 are Bangladeshi residents. In the governorates, there are 201 cases in Farwaniya, 188 in Ahmadi, 123 in Jahra, 98 in Hawally, and 52 in the Capital. Among the residential areas, Farwaniya has the highest number, with 49 cases. Currently, there are 10,999 active cases after decreasing from 11,379 cases. Compared to yesterday’s report, the new number of cases decreased.
The situation of the Communities in Kuwait
The Kuwait authorities reiterated their announcement that Friday noon prayer and sermon would be conducted at the Grand Mosque of Kuwait City. Then, they will broadcast the religious activity through the official channel of Kuwait TV. For this, they will only allow the mosque’s preacher and staff to attend inside the mosques.
In the Sharq Fish Market, the video shows a different kind of fishes being made available for the community. It will significantly help the citizens and residents in finding fresh food commodities for their daily meals.
The Capital Governor inspected the market in Souk Mubarakiya as the authorities reopened the place. The photo shows many stalls lining up as they sell vegetables and other more. Most of them are food shops.
I am very grateful to the Kuwait authorities for their constant monitoring and inspection of the markets and other establishments. I am reassured that the following vendors and customers will follow the implemented guidelines to help curb the spread of COVID-19 disease. Today marks the 76th day of the curfew and the 9th day of the government’s first-phase plan. As the days go further, I see a significant improvement in the community.
Announcement of Philippine Embassy in Kuwait
The Philippine Embassy of Kuwait announced to the Filipino individuals who answered the online survey by the Embassy in April 2020 about the possible repatriation of people holding Visa 14, which is visit, or temporary visa and Visa 22, which is the family visa. For that, they released the list of Filipinos who are unable to answer the calls and messages of the Embassy. They will only give them until this Wednesday of June 10, 2020 to reply to this number +96598005115.
Moreover, they clarified those Filipino workers holding Visa 18 and 20 are not included. For these holders, the Embassy advised them to coordinate with their employers or company, for they are the ones who will purchase their ticket home. They can also coordinate with the POLO Kuwait in this number +96594039063, in case if their respective employers or agency does not answer their request.
Employment for the Repatriated OFWs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced that they agreed to not put the repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers in Metro Manila beyond five days. The Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III affirmed that upon the OFWs arrival, they would undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for coronavirus. If they tested negative, they could go home according to the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases (IATF-EID).
About 600 OFWs arrived in the country two days ago. They currently tested negative of the PCR test. For that, the authorities will send them to their respective provinces.
In the country, many displaced Overseas Filipino Workers are currently unemployed due to the health crisis the coronavirus pandemic brought. However, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced to the displaced OFWs that two companies are currently offering 8,000 available jobs for them. The companies are the EMS Group of Companies and Optum Global Solutions. Each firm searches for 4,000 workers. Both companies coordinated with the DOLE’s Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) as they offered Filipino workers employment.
The Optum Global Solutions offer jobs for nurse case management specialists or US registered nurses, customer service specialist or voice jobs, clinical operations specialists or Philippine registered nurses. For the voice role jobs, the company will accept graduates of any four-year course or career shifters, according to Labor OIC-Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay.
The company advised the interested applicants to visit the virtual open house from June 8 to June 30 of 2020. The online event will start from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm through the link https://uhg.hr/8qwu2 . The link will take them to a virtual lobby where the company can teach them about its details and the available positions. They can also chat with the recruits. They also said that the applicants could send their applications to this e-mail address joshua.iway@optum.com.
The other company, EMS Group of Companies, needs workers for its plants located in the Laguna Technopark in Binan and Technopark in Batangas. The establishment is searching for production operators and assembly workers from the repatriated OFWs. They only require workers of at least 18 years old and a graduate of high school. Experience in electronics is not necessary for the company will provide its training for the accepted individuals. For that, the interested applicants must send their resumes to cayc@ems.com.ph, recruitment@espi.com.ph, and PhilJobNet.gov.ph.
With this, Labor OIC-Assistant Secretary Tutay welcomed the initiatives of these private sectors to help the repatriated OFWs be employed. It will be a great help, especially that the country is still facing the threat of COVID-19 pandemic.
I give my great thanks to the government and private sectors for providing the OFWs a chance to be employed. It is not easy to lose most of their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis. Yet, public and private organizations can back them up. For that, I can see the meaningful cooperation between our society.
“Ang pag-asa ng matuwid ay magbibigay ng kaligayahan, ngunit ang pag-asa ng masama ay walang katuparan.”
Kawikaan 10:28 ASND
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A multi-award-winning blogger and advocate for OFWs and investment literacy; recipient of the Mass Media Advocacy Award, Philippine Expat Blog Award, and Most Outstanding Balikbayan Award. Her first book, The Global Filipino Bloggers OFW Edition, was launched at the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. A certified Registered Financial Planner of the Philippines specializing in the Stock Market. A recognized author of the National Book Development Board of the Philippines. Co-founder of Teachers Specialist Organization in Kuwait (TSOK) and Filipino Bloggers in Kuwait (FBK). An international member of writing and poetry. Published more than 10 books. Read more: About DiaryNiGracia
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