MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration has barred 100 first time overseas Filipino workers (OFW) bound for Kuwait in compliance with the temporary travel ban imposed by the labor department.

“Even with the properly announced deployment ban, there are still some individuals who wanted to try their luck in leaving for Kuwait,” Ports Operations Division Chief Grifton Medina said in a statement.

The OFW aspirants were advised to coordinate with their employment agency and wait until the temporary travel ban to Kuwait is lifted.

He also reminded first time travelers going to Kuwait not to take any chances in leaving the country in order to avoid inconvenience and ticket rebooking expenses.

“Mas maganda po sa lahat ng first time Kuwait-bound OFW na huwag nang subukang umalis pa para maka-iwas sa gastos sa biyahe at mataas na halaga ng airline rebooking fee,” he said.

A ban on the deployment of Filipino household workers to Kuwait was expanded to cover new hires and those with expired contracts, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said Friday.

• Kuwait deployment ban covers new household workers, those with expired contracts: Labor chief

The policy came after Filipina maid Jeanelyn Villavende was allegedly killed by her employers in December, following her repeated complaints of maltreatment and underpayment of salary. Villavende's employers are in custody, Bello earlier said.

• OFW sought help from agency months before she was killed by Kuwaiti employer

Medina estimated that a regular round trip ticket to Kuwait ranges from P45,000 to P50,000 depending on the airline. While, airline rebooking fee costs almost half the price of the ticket depending on the availability of seats.