Clarification on the Deployment of Filipino Seafarers to Kuwait

February 3, 2020POEA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 001-20TO : All Concerned   SUBJECT : Clarification on the Deployment of Filipino Seafarers to Kuwait Relative to the issuance of POEA-Governing Board Resolution (GBR) No. 04, Series of 2020, where a total employment ban was imposed on the processing and deployment of domestic workers or household service workers, semi-skilled workers, skilled workers and professionals, including crew changes and shore leaves of Filipino seafarers in Kuwait, the following clarification is hereby issued:1. Filipino ocean-going seafarers are not in the same category of domestic helpers or household service workers, semi-skilled workers, skilled workers and professionals who are vulnerable to the abuses of Kuwait employers; ETHIDa2. Deployment of crew replacements, repatriation and shore leave only requires temporary stay on land before and after joining the vessels, as the seafarers are not permanently employed in Kuwait; and3. Filipino seafarers are categorized as highly skilled and professional, hence, the inclusion of the seafarers from the total deployment ban in Kuwait is hereby lifted in accordance with the exemption provided for under the above-mentioned resolution....