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| Kuwaiti influencer defends controversial remarks on Filipino workers | Kuwaiti influencer defends controversial remarks on Filipino workers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Kuwaiti social-media influencer who was criticised over comments she made about Filipino domestic workers has defended her remarks. | A Kuwaiti social-media influencer who was criticised over comments she made about Filipino domestic workers has defended her remarks. |
| Sondos Alqattan had posted an Instagram video condemning new laws that give Filipino workers a day off per week and the right to keep their passports. | Sondos Alqattan had posted an Instagram video condemning new laws that give Filipino workers a day off per week and the right to keep their passports. |
| However, she has said that the outcry she received was "unjustified", though she has since deleted the video. | However, she has said that the outcry she received was "unjustified", though she has since deleted the video. |
| Known for her make-up tutorials, Ms Alqattan has 2.3m Instagram followers. | Known for her make-up tutorials, Ms Alqattan has 2.3m Instagram followers. |
| "I have not [in] any circumstances in present or past... degraded or in any way mistreated an employee of mine," she said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. | "I have not [in] any circumstances in present or past... degraded or in any way mistreated an employee of mine," she said in an Instagram post on Tuesday. |
| "I consider all employees as equal human being [sic]." | "I consider all employees as equal human being [sic]." |
| Several beauty companies who previously had ties with Ms Alqattan have moved to distance themselves. | Several beauty companies who previously had ties with Ms Alqattan have moved to distance themselves. |
| "We are totally against the principles expressed by Ms Sondos Alqattan which in no way reflect the Micallef brand," a spokesperson from perfume house M. Micallef told the BBC. | "We are totally against the principles expressed by Ms Sondos Alqattan which in no way reflect the Micallef brand," a spokesperson from perfume house M. Micallef told the BBC. |
| Make-up company Chelsea Beautique also posted on Twitter that Ms Alqattan's behaviour did not "represent [their] brand's core beliefs". | Make-up company Chelsea Beautique also posted on Twitter that Ms Alqattan's behaviour did not "represent [their] brand's core beliefs". |
| 'Out of touch with humanity' | 'Out of touch with humanity' |
| In her controversial video posted earlier in July, Ms Alqattan said: "How can you have a servant at home who keeps their own passport with them? And what's worse is they have one day off every week. I don't want a Filipina maid anymore." | In her controversial video posted earlier in July, Ms Alqattan said: "How can you have a servant at home who keeps their own passport with them? And what's worse is they have one day off every week. I don't want a Filipina maid anymore." |
| The response to her remarks has been fierce. | The response to her remarks has been fierce. |
| Migrante International, an advocacy group for Filipinos working overseas said it "vehemently condemned" Ms Alqattan's statements. | Migrante International, an advocacy group for Filipinos working overseas said it "vehemently condemned" Ms Alqattan's statements. |
| "We strongly demand that she offer public apology [sic] and express remorse for her disgusting statements," it said in an online statement. | "We strongly demand that she offer public apology [sic] and express remorse for her disgusting statements," it said in an online statement. |
| "It would be more valuable if she can visit the Philippines to witness the appalling poverty... and find out what hardships [they] had to go through before they can be deployed abroad." | "It would be more valuable if she can visit the Philippines to witness the appalling poverty... and find out what hardships [they] had to go through before they can be deployed abroad." |
| More than 250,000 Filipinos are working in Kuwait, according to the Philippines foreign ministry. Most are employed as maids or domestic helpers. | More than 250,000 Filipinos are working in Kuwait, according to the Philippines foreign ministry. Most are employed as maids or domestic helpers. |
| The Philippines had earlier this year temporarily banned its citizens from travelling to work in Kuwait, following an incident in which a domestic worker was killed and her body found in a freezer. | |
| The ban was lifted in May after Kuwait and the Philippines signed an agreement on workers' rights. | The ban was lifted in May after Kuwait and the Philippines signed an agreement on workers' rights. |