Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo (Rep. Salo's office)

Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo is hoping that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) won't be affected by the case of the tragic passing of a child under the care of a Filipino domestic worker in Kuwait.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of a child under the care of a Household Service Worker (HSW) in Kuwait. We extend our sincere condolences to the bereaved Kuwaiti family during this difficult time," Salo said in a statement Monday, Dec. 30.

"While this isolated incident is deeply unfortunate, we trust that it will not define the migration policies of both the Philippines and Kuwait," he said.

Salo has extensively experience working and consulting with OFWs during his tenure as chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs in the current 19th Congress.

"Our deployment to Kuwait has not yet fully returned to normalcy, and we remain committed in ensuring the safety and well-being of our migrant workers and their employers abroad," he noted.

Regarding the case, Salo urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to provide the household service worker with appropriate legal representation and to ensure that her rights are upheld within the bounds of Kuwaiti law. 

"We also trust that her family is informed and assured of our government’s efforts of giving her legal support," said the veteran lawmaker. 

Based on local media reports, the domestic worker allegedly placed the child inside a washing machine “out of frustration”.

The parents reportedly came home hearing their son’s screams and quickly brought him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Magna Carta of Migrant Workers

"As we work towards further safeguarding our migrant workers, we continue to advocate for the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 8951, or the Magna Carta of Migrant Workers, which this representation has filed," Salo said.

He called the proposed Magna Carta "a vital piece of legislation that will ensure our migrant workers are not only physically but also psychologically fit before deployment".

"By ensuring that our workers are well-equipped to handle the emotional and physical demands of working abroad, we can help prevent such tragedies, reduce vulnerabilities, and promote a healthier working relationship between workers and employers," he said.

"Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to the protection of our migrant workers while fostering respect and understanding of the laws of our host countries," Salo further said.