The Senate Committees on Migrant Workers and Foreign Relations are now seeking a public apology from the government of Kuwait for all the recurring cases of abuse, maltreatment and murder committed against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The call for a public apology to the whole Filipino people is part of Committee Report No. 56 released by the two panels which also recommended the imposition of a deployment ban for newly-hired household service workers (HSWs) in the Gulf State. “I think its about time that the Kuwaiti government should really apologize because that means they are not doing anything to address this problem,” Sen. Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo said in the 28-paged report. Tulfo, chairman of the migrant workers committee, said that while the Kuwaiti government has expressed its condolences, apology and assurance that justice would be served to the family of Jullibee Ranara, the Kuwaiti state should instead apologize to the Filipino and not just to the relatives of Ranara. The 28-paged report also recommended to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to enforce a deployment ban of newly-hired HSWs to Kuwait effective immediately and until new protective measures, “as proposed herein,” are incorporated. Among the  recommendations set by the two committees also include the directing the DMW to require direct employers (DEs) to submit resume or bio-date of DE; medical certificate from government accredited hospital/clinic attesting to the physical and psychological fitness/condition of DE, including all members of the household, except children seven years and below; police clearance or similar document attesting that DE has no criminal or any previous derogatory record; picture of the house or building, including the interior that will be part of the working area of the HSW; background history of DE in employing HSWs; details of duties and responsibilities of HSW specified in affidavit forms signed by the DE and the foreign recruitment agency’s (FRA) transcript of final interview with DE. The Senate committees also recommended increasing the minimum paid-up capital in setting up a Philippine recruitment agency (PRA) from P5-million to at least P30 to P50-million. The committee report also seeks the creation of a list of associations or organizations of OFWs, employees, and/or both, and require them to seek accreditation from the DMW. The DMW, in turn, will regularly check the background of the convenors, leaders, spokespersons, sponsors and organizers to ensure they advocate genuine intent for the welfare of OFWs and their families. The two panels also recommended the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to effectively monitor all OFWs in Kuwait and worldwide. At the same time, the panel recommended that the government revisit, review and evaluate existing bilateral labor agreement (BLA) with Kuwait and take into consideration all issues identified, and introduce recommendations proposed by the joint committees. The joint committees also reiterated the call for the abolition of the “Kafala” system, similar to what have been undertaken in Bahrain and Qatar, and other forms of employment that have the same effect of limiting the protection that can be provided to OFWs. The Senate panels also urged the DMW to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in sending the clamor, the sentiments and concerns of not only the Ranara family but the entire Filipino people to the Kuwait government, “for all the recurring cases of physical and financial abuse, maltreatment, non-payment of monetary benefits, and murder committed against OFWs, and seek the appropriate acknowledgment and apology from concerned parties.”