DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER/INTERIOR MINISTER WELCOMES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002024

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

FOR NEA/ARP, INL/HSTC, AND G/TIP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2016
TAGS: PHUM ELAB KU TIP
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER/INTERIOR MINISTER WELCOMES
U.S. CONCERNS ON COMBATING TIP

REF: STATE 85464

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) The Ambassador met with First Deputy Prime Minister
Shaykh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, who holds the Defense and
Interior portfolios as well, on May 31 to discuss TIP issues.
(The meeting had been scheduled before the change in release
dates, so the Ambassador spoke about TIP issues in general
terms without discussing specifics of the TIP report or
Kuwait's ranking.)


2. (C) The Ambassador told Shaykh Jaber that Kuwait had
made progress over the past year, but that public
announcements on combating TIP and protecting expatriate
laborers had to be backed up by concrete actions. He
emphasized that the U.S. wanted to be a partner in this
effort. The Minister -- who oversees the Interior Ministry,
which has responsibility for domestic workers -- agreed and
said it was a humanitarian issue that had to be addressed.
He pointed out that laws were particularly difficult to
enforce in the domestic labor sector and that Kuwait needed
help from the sending countries, which were often complicit
in exploitation of their citizens. (Note: Most domestic
workers are from India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and
Indonesia and there is credible evidence of corruption and
embassy complicity in the exploitation on the part of some of
these embassies. End Note.) The Minister welcomed U.S.
suggestions and proposals, while noting that foreign workers
also pose a significant long-term security challenge to the
country.


3. (C) The Ambassador recommended enforcing domestic labor
contracts, establishing a shelter for domestic workers, and
vigorously prosecuting offenders. He also urged greater
transparency in the TIP-related prosecution statistics
provided to Post. The Minister responded that courts work on
prosecutions, but the length of time it takes for cases to be
resolved is a problem. He noted that the GOK frequently pays
for workers' tickets home if they encounter problems and want
to leave the country. Lastly, the Minister noted that the
GOK respects U.S. analysis and suggestions on TIP even if it
does not agree on everything that appears in the report.

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For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s

You can also access the site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website
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LEBARON