DMW to charge Kuwaiti over OFW’s Jan. 2 death
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) plans to file a negligence case against the employer of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who died in Kuwait, allegedly due to coal smoke inhalation.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said on Sunday that while the autopsy report on Jenny Alvarado is still pending, the department remains firm in pursuing legal action against her employer.
“We will stand by this, and the employer will face his responsibility for the care and safety of his employees and staff under his or her care,” Cacdac said in an interview with dzBB.
1 of 3 killed
According to the migrant workers’ group Sandigan (Samahan ng mga DH sa Gitnang Silangan), Alvarado had been working as a domestic helper in Kuwait for more than eight years.
She died on Jan. 2 alongside a Nepalese and Sri Lankan coworker while vacationing at their employer’s house during the New Year celebration.
Her remains were initially supposed to arrive in the Philippines on Jan. 10, but her family discovered it was the wrong cadaver.
Her actual body finally arrived on Jan. 16, and the National Bureau of Investigation is now finalizing the autopsy report to determine the exact cause of her death in Kuwait.
Possible compensation
In a statement on Saturday, Cacdac said he directed the department’s legal team in Kuwait to investigate the service provider responsible for the mix-up to clarify the incident and explore possible compensation.
Cacdac also visited Alvarado’s wake in Rodriguez, Rizal, over the weekend to provide updates on the government’s actions and investigations.
He was joined by Migrant Workers Undersecretaries Dominique Rubia-Tutay and Felicitas Bay, along with other senior officials.
Aside from financial aid, Cacdac assured the family of ongoing support for Alvarado’s five children, particularly for their education.
The DMW is also collaborating with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to provide cash assistance and other forms of support to the bereaved family.
