Contractual Employment Period and Release Conditions
- CWs have fixed employment contracts specifying the employment duration.
- Requests for release before contract expiration based on reasons not specified in the contract (such as illness, inability to work, or family emergencies) are generally not acceptable.
Employer's Financial Demands upon Early Release
- Employers agreeing to early release may demand reimbursement of expenses incurred, including a one-way airfare from Manila to Kuwait (~USD 500).
- Employment agents often delay reimbursement for up to three months post-worker deployment.
- CWs usually must pay the employer's expenses before passport release.
Release and Exit Permit Procedures
- After obtaining an employer's release, the CW must present release papers to the Kuwait Ministry of Interior, Passport and Nationality Office to secure an exit permit.
- Exit permits are mandatory to leave the country and are not issued immediately.
- Investigations may be conducted if the CW is a runaway employee.
Airline Ticket and Exit Requirements
- CWs must present definite airline ticket bookings (purchased by agents or from relatives) when applying for exit permits.
- Holding an airline ticket alone does not authorize departure; release and exit permits are also required.
Embassy Assistance and Procedural Timelines
- While procedural formalities are personal to the CW, the Philippine Embassy provides assistance but the process requires time.
Employer Relations and Embassy Contact
- Employers generally resent embassy invitations or contacts with their employees.
Challenges in Assisting Runaway Domestic Helpers
- Assistance is contingent upon the embassy knowing the whereabouts of runaway helpers.
- Difficulty arises when housemaids conceal their locations or use false identities.
Cases of Transfer and Intention Declarations
- Some CWs obtain release from original employers to work for other employers or wish to remain in Kuwait for personal reasons.
- In such cases, the embassy requires sworn statements documenting the CW's intentions for record-keeping purposes.