Kuwaiti social media celebrity slammed for anti-Filipino domestic remarks
A SOCIAL media celebrity in Kuwait is under fire for comments against Filipina domestic helpers in the Gulf state.
The video, which was uploaded on Facebook by Turkey’s English-language channel TRT World on Friday, has over 520,000 views.
Sondos Alqattan, who is also a makeup artist, complained about Filipina domestic workers getting a day off and not surrendering their passports to their employers.
Photo from Alqattan’s official Instagram account
“I don’t want a Filipino maid anymore,” Alqattan was quoted as saying in Arabic. “But how can you have a servant in your house who gets to keep their passport with them? If they ran away and returned to their country, who will refund me? And what’s worse is, they have one day off every week.”
Alqattan expressed her opposition to an agreement between the Philippines and Kuwait to protect domestic workers in the Gulf state.
Netizens around the world condemned the remarks of Alqattan.
“I wish I can slap her over and over again until her makeup is removed,” said Sahar Refai.
For Filipina Meecha Toverada, Alqattan should apologize for her inhumane comments and should set a good example, as the celebrity is a known social media influencer with 2.3 million followers on Instagram.
“If these people have a choice, they wouldn’t choose to go there and work abroad away from their family,” said Toverada. “It’s just that, even if they work hard, they don’t have the opportunity. If you treat us right, we will treat you better.”
“I wish she was born a poor Filipino and would have to work 24/7,” said Milena Winner. “Ask yourself who you are when your wealth is taken away from you. Just a sack of flesh and bones lacking human values.”
In May, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, signed a bilateral agreement providing greater protection for OFWs in the Gulf state.
The agreement came after the remains of household service worker (HSW) Joanna Demafelis were discovered in a Kuwaiti apartment in February. ARIC JOHN SY CUA
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