INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY TIP PROGRESS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002395

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016
TAGS: PHUM ELAB PINR KU TIP
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY TIP PROGRESS TO
CONTINUE: DOMESTIC LABOR CONTRACT IN PLACE BY OCTOBER

REF: KUWAIT 921

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matt Tueller for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU/NF) The Charge met June 19 with Brigadier General
Ahmad Nawaf Al-Sabah, Assistant Undersecretary for
Citizenship, Passports and Bidoon Affairs at the Ministry of
Interior, to present the findings of the TIP report and to
encourage the GOK to follow through on the promises it has
made to improve conditions for domestic workers in Kuwait.
Colonel Abdullah Al-Ruwaih, Director of Immigration, and Esam
Nomani, Director of the Domestic Workers Administration, also
attended the meeting. The Charge commended the GOK for its
preliminary steps to improve the lot of domestic workers in
Kuwait but emphasized that more work was needed, specifically
suggesting that a shelter for domestic workers, standardized
contracts, and a public awareness campaign were key steps
that would help protect workers. Al-Ruwaih responded that
the GOK is currently working to implement the standardized
contracts, which would guarantee health care, a minimum wage
of 40 Dinars (140 USD),daily rest periods, weekly days off
that can be spent inside or outside the place of work, one
month of paid vacation per year, and a ticket to the country
of origin every two years.


2. (SBU/NF) In an earlier meeting Al-Ruwaih had said the
contracts would be implemented in August (reftel). He
predicted that the lull of the summer months would mean the
contracts would not be implemented until September or
October. Al-Sabah, who was appointed to his position in late
May, was not aware of the shelter discussions. Al-Ruwaih
reiterated earlier statements that the shelter is still under
study in concert with the Ministry of Social Affairs and
Labor. Al-Sabah invited the Embassy to call Al-Ruwaih with
any further questions, which is an important development
since Al-Ruwaih is a key player on this issue and had
previously been somewhat reticent to meet with the Embassy.

Bio Note
--------------


3. (C/NF) General Al-Sabah is the son of Crown Prince Nawaf
Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah who was the Interior Minister before his
selection as heir apparant. The General speaks limited
English, having been educated entirely in Kuwait. He is
personable. He did not seem well-informed on the issues, but
he has been in the position for only a few weeks. Muhammad
Khalaf, the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia and a passionate
advocate of improving the situation of domestic workers in
Kuwait, had said Al-Sabah's appointment would help the cause
of domestic workers in Kuwait.

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

Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
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TUELLER