EDITORIAL — What is Kuwait’s game?

Kuwait has stopped issuing new entry visas to Filipinos, claiming that the Philippines' failed to comply with a labor agreement between the two countries.

However, when pressed for answers, the Kuwaiti interior ministry did not or could not specify what particular section in the agreement the Philippines allegedly violated.

A Philippine delegation recently went there to get clarification on what led to these developments. Two days of talks reached nothing. Another visit is set for July. But in the meantime what Kuwait decides will stay, leaving many Filipinos who have arranged to work there in limbo.

We have to wonder what angle Kuwait is playing here. What end they want to achieve.

According to reports, Kuwaiti authorities are not agreeable to the Philippine embassy's move to give shelter to Filipino household workers who ran away from allegedly abusive employers. Perhaps this is why they stopped issuing entry visas.

If indeed Kuwaiti authorities are opposed to our embassy taking care of our own then that would be counter to our rights and is inherently wrong.

It may even be that they know they are wrong and thus cannot tell us to our face what labor agreement “violation” we committed and are just hoping that we will catch on and give in.

We understand that it is the right of Kuwait to stop issuing entry visas to any country when it sees the situation is fit to do so. However, it is also our right to protect our nationals from abusive employees. And despite the promises made by that Gulf state, there are still abuses being committed against our workers there.

As much as we want to ensure that Filipinos can continue working in that Gulf state we should not compromise when it comes to the safety of our citizens. If those who are abused, mistreated, or raped cannot run to their own embassy for protection then to whom can they turn?