Recruiter also liable for OFW’s death in Kuwait — Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo wants sanctions against the recruiter of Filipino domestic helper Jeanelyn Villavende, who allegedly died in the hands of her employer’s wife in Kuwait.

“They must seriously look into the sanctions that must be imposed not just on her (Villavende’s) employers but on her agency as well,” Robredo said over dzXL.

 She said the Filipino household helper had sought help from her agency months before she was killed.

“She asked for help from her agency but it didn’t do anything to remove her from her situation,” Robredo said.

Reports said Villavende was “black and blue” and “already dead” when she was rushed to hospital.

The Vice President also urged the government to look into the implementation of the agreement signed by the Philippines and Kuwait in 2018 for the protection of Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

“There’s a provision there which states that their employers can’t take possession Recruiter of their passports, cellphones and transfer them to another employer without our permission. But it appears that the (agreement) is not being implemented,” Robredo said.

 Villavende’s death prompted the Philippine government to impose a partial deployment ban on new household service workers to Kuwait.

 In 2018, the government already enforced a suspension of Filipino workers to Kuwait following the death of Filipino domestic helper Joanna Demafelis.

 “The government must really study this because even if there was suspension last year and the memorandum of agreement, this (deaths of OFW) still happened. The (government) must ensure this won’t happen again,” she said.

 ACTS-OFW Party-list chair John Bertiz called on the government to impose a total deployment ban on household workers to Kuwait.