PH to send officials to Kuwait to discuss visa issuance suspension

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) — The Philippines will send envoys to Kuwait this month to discuss the suspension of the issuance of new entry and work visas for Filipinos, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The issue will be included in the bilateral talks between the two countries. The Philippines will be represented by the DFA and Department of Migrant Workers.

According to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes, it is still unclear why Kuwait suspended the issuance of visas.

"'Yong sinasabi nilang paglabag hindi nanggaling officially ng Kuwait government. Nailathala lang 'yan sa mga dyaryo, news articles ng Kuwait," Cortes said. "Ang nakasulat ay ang paglabag daw ay pag-operate ng shelter."

[Translation: The news about the violation did not come from the Kuwait government. It was just reported in newspapers, news articles in Kuwait. What was written was that the violation was the operation of shelters.]

He added that the establishment of shelters for distressed Filipino workers by the Philippine Embassy is part of the agreement signed by the Philippines and Kuwait in 2018.

READ: PH ‘confident’ to resolve issues with Kuwait over visa issuance suspension 

CNN Philippines multiplatform news writer Mariel Celine Serquiña contributed to this story.