GOK ADVISED OF PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004219 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ELAB KDEM SOCI KWMN KCRM KU TIP SUBJECT: GOK ADVISED OF PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION ON TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REF: A. KUWAIT 4031 ¶B. KUWAIT 4007 ¶C. STATE 163401 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On September 27, PolChief advised Hamad Al-Mashan, Second Secretary in the America's Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the President's September 21 determination that Kuwait would remain a Tier 3 country with regard to Trafficking in Persons (TIP),but that sanctions would be waived for U.S. national interests. Based on local press reports of the determination and sanctions waiver, Al-Mashan, like many of GOK officials, believed that Kuwait's ranking had been elevated to Tier 2. He appreciated the clarification and said he would share the determination memorandum with his superiors and with colleagues at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. ¶2. (C) PolChief further advised Al-Mashan of the six-month review of Kuwait's ranking and expressed hope that the new labor law would soon be approved and minimum wage standards implemented. She encouraged progress on establishing a shelter for domestics and recommended the GOK find a way to better and more easily identify those who have been prosecuted for TIP-type violations. Al-Mashan said he expected the labor law to be adopted shortly after Parliament reconvenes on October 17 and reported the GOK was almost ready to impose the new wage standards. He agreed that the focus should not be on ratings, but rather on measures the GOK could adopt to improve the working conditions of its substantial expatriate population. He restated the GOK's commitment to combating TIP in concert with the U.S. ¶3. (C) Comment: Post is planning specific public and private outreach steps to reinforce the message that Kuwait remains at Tier 3 and that actions need to be taken to improve its performance. We are also beginning to get the attention of our European colleagues on TIP issues and are engaging locally with the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labor Organization, and the International Organization for Migration. End Comment. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON