Can I go back home to Manila from Kuwait, even if I have been here for only 2 weeks?

anonymous
This person has chosen to hide his/her identity.

Paano po kung mag-decide ako umuwi from Kuwait to Manila kahit 2 weeks pa lang ako sa Kuwait? Sasagutin po ba ng employer ang transportation expense ko? Salamat po.


Translation: What would happen if I decide to go back home to Manila from Kuwait, even if I have been here in Kuwait for only 2 weeks? Would the employer shoulder/ pay for the transportation expense?

 

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Adelaimar C Arias-Jose
is a Legal expert in the Philippines
I cannot really answer your question. In the first place, I do not know if you are in Kuwait because you were directly hired, or if you were able to work in Kuwait under a POEA-approved employment contract.

Second, I do not know why you want to leave Kuwait. Were you maltreated? WEre you promised certain terms that were not met? Such as, you were promised clerical work at an office, but when you got there, you were given work as a site-engineer? Were you promised with a high salary only to find out when you arrived in Kuwait that you were going to be paid a substantially low salary?

These are some of the reasons for which an employee may terminate a contract of employment and repatriate. But if you do not have any reason similar to these that I have enumerated (you had a better offer to work in Europe where the living conditions are more favorable to you), then, you may have no legal grounds to terminate the contract.

Read the contract of employment and see whether you are given the right to terminate the contract yourself; read it to see what grounds you can terminate the contract; and see whether your employer has the obligation to pay for your airfare if you were forced to terminate the contract due to some breach of the provisions by the employer.

As I have not seen the contract, I cannot tell. It is best if you consult a lawyer and show the lawyer the documents you have in your possession.

About the author

Adelaimar C Arias-Jose

I am a graduate of the UP College of Law. Member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines since 1995. I am currently involved in private practice in criminal, civil and labor law.
Profession: Lawyer
Adelaimar C. Arias-Jose
Office Address: #34 St. Michael Street
Philippines , Manila , Makati
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