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WHEREAS,  President  Rodrigo R. Duterte on 18 January  2018 announced that a deployment ban for Kuwait is being considered because of the abuses and maltreatment of Filipino workers;

WHEREAS,  under  Section  6  of  the  implementing  rules  of  Republic  Act
10022, the POEA Governing Board, after consultation with the DFA, may, at any time, terminate or impose a ban on the deployment of migrant workers;

WHEREAS,  the  Secretary  of  the  Department  of  Labor  and  Employment (DOLE) after consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued Administrative Order No. 25, Series of 2018 dated 19 January 2018 directing the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to suspend the processing  of Overseas  Employment  Certificates  (OEC)  for deployment  in Kuwait pending the investigation of the cause of deaths of the following Overseas Filipino  Workers  (OFWs)  in Kuwait,  namely:  LiezlTruzHukdong,  Vanessa Karissha L. Esguerra, Maria Fe SalilingLibrada, Arlene Castillo Manzano, Devine Riche Encarnacion, Patrick Sunga and Mira Luna Juntilla;

WHEREAS, the DOLE Secretary issued Administrative Order No. 54, Series of 2018, enforcing a total ban on the deployment of all Overseas Filipino Workers to Kuwait pursuant to the directive of the President of the Philippines in pursuit of national interest and with the advent of the series of reports involving abuse and death  of  OFWs  in  Kuwait  and  the  most  recent  is  that  of  Joanna  Daniela Demafelis, a domestic worker;

WHEREAS,  on 14 February  2018, DOLE  issued  Administrative  Order No. 54-A,  Series  of 2018  providing  guidelines  on the deployment  ban pursuant  to Administrative Order No. 54, Series of 2018.

NOW   THEREFORE,   the   POEA   Governing   Board   in   a   meeting   duly convened, RESOLVES AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to adopt the said DOLE Administrative  Orders  and effect a deployment  ban to Kuwait  effective immediately, subject to the following guidelines:

A.   Coverage

B.   Exception

The ban does not include:

1.   Workers who are vacationing  in the Philippines  and will be returning to the  same  employer  to  finish  their  contracts,  at  the  end  of  his/her vacation;
2.   Balik-Manggagawa   workers  who  are  returning  to  Kuwait  on  a  new contract with the same employer; and
3.   Seafarers who will be transiting through or boarding in Kuwait to join their principals.

C.   Counter-Checking Process

The issuance of OEC to be issued by POEA/POLO to Balik-Manggagawa exempted from the ban as specified above shall require prior clearance from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

RESOLVED   FURTHER   that   the   deployment   ban   to   Kuwait   shall   be maintained until further notice.

RESOLVED FINALLY that these Guidelines shall take effect immediately. Done in the City of Manila this 14th day of February 2018.

(SGD) ESTRELITA S. HIZON Member

(SGD) ALEXANDER E. ASUNCION Member