NEW SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR MINISTER LISTS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003322

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP, S/CT, AND G/TIP; TREASURY FOR HECHT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2016
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PGOV PTER KU TIP KTFN
SUBJECT: NEW SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR MINISTER LISTS
CHARITY OVERSIGHT AND WORKER PROTECTION AS PRIORITIES

REF: A. KUWAIT 2395

B. KUWAIT 2118

C. KUWAIT 2113

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


1. (C/NF) Summary: New Minister of Social Affairs and
Labor Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid told the Ambassador August 15
that he intended to improve Kuwait's international image
through better oversight of charities and strengthening the
legal protections for Kuwait's expatriate worker population.
He established a committee of the Ministry and Kuwait's
charities as a vehicle for airing grievances and clarifying
what charitable activities Kuwaiti law permits. Another
aspect of charity oversight was seeking more transparency in
how donated funds are spent. He asserted the GOK would
prosecute individuals and organizations who use charitable
funds to support terror, provided sufficient evidence is
provided. The Ambassador advised the Minister the U.S. had
concerns about some Kuwaiti organizations and encouraged the
GOK to complete its investigation and share the results. The
Minister also told the Ambassador he hoped the new Parliament
would quickly approve the new labor law. He said his
Ministry worked hard on it and consulted with the ILO to
ensure that international standards were met. He was not
convinced MPs recognized the importance of the law and noted
some resistance in the business community. The Ambassador
said the new law would contribute to efforts to strengthen
bilateral trade relations and he encouraged the GOK to
continue efforts to improve working conditions for laborers
and domestics. He recognized progress in combating
Trafficking in Persons and provided the Minister with a copy
of the TIP Action Plan containing additional anti-TIP
measures the GOK could adopt. End Summary.

Improving Kuwait's International Image
--------------


2. (C/NF) During an August 15 meeting, new Minister of
Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid
Al-Sabah told the Ambassador that among his goals was
improving the international image of Kuwait. Inadequate
protections for Kuwait's foreign workers and improper use of
charitable funds tarnished Kuwait's standing in the
international community; he hoped passage of a new labor law
and stricter regulation of charities would enhance Kuwait's
reputation. Opening with a review of charity oversight, he
said one of his firsts acts as Minister was to establish a
committee of MOSAL and all of Kuwait's Islamic charities.
Monthly meetings provide an opportunity for open exchanges of
ideas and an airing of grievances. He informed the
Ambassador that he met with leaders of all of the charities
to make clear what the GOK expected from charities and what
was permissible under Kuwaiti law. As an example of GOK
efforts to better regulate charitable donations, he explained
that in response to the public desire to donate money to
Lebanon, the GOK established an account at the Central Bank
for all contributions to ensure the right people get the
money.

Enhanced Charity Oversight
--------------


3. (S/NF) The Ambassador noted progress made in Kuwait's
efforts to monitor and regulate charitable activities and
agreed with the Minister on the need for transparency and
informing donors how their money was spent. Despite marked
improvements in regulating the domestic activities of Kuwaiti
charities, he advised the Minister of U.S. concerns about the
overseas branches of Kuwaiti charities such as Revival of
Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS). He said RIHS's overseas
activities were under review and pressed the GOK to complete
its own investigation and inform the U.S. of its results.
Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid said he welcomed any evidence the U.S.
could provide on RIHS activities in support of terrorism and
stated that with compelling evidence, the GOK would take
additional action. He commented that for five years, RIHS
has been accused of terror-related activities, but without
real evidence. He informed the Ambassador that Russia
recently designated two Kuwaiti charities, but has not yet
responded to the GOK's request for evidence.


4. (S/NF) The Ambassador also raised RIHS's activities
during an August 14 meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem
Al-Sabah. The FM stressed the importance of distinguishing
between domestic branches of charitable organizations and
their overseas offices, noting RIHS Chairman Tariq Al-Essa

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was well-respected and well-connected in Kuwait.

Meeting International Standards on Labor
--------------


5. (C/NF) The Minister said another priority was passage of
the labor law. He said his Ministry worked long and hard on
it and sought ILO input so that the law would be consistent
with international standards. The draft has been with the
National Assembly since January, but the death of the Amir,
succession, parliamentary dissolution, and new elections
impeded its passage. He hoped the new Parliament would give
the law serious consideration when it reconvened in late
October, but admitted the Government would need to lobby hard
on its behalf. He bemoaned MPs did not appreciate the
significance of a new labor law and accused the business
community of not supporting strengthened protections for
workers. The Ambassador welcomed the prospect of the new
labor law and said it was a key element for progress in the
upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA)
talks. The Ambassador confirmed, however, that the draft law
did not cover domestic workers, whose status is regulated by
the Ministry of Interior.

TIP
---


6. (C/NF) The Ambassador further informed the Minister of
the need to maintain momentum on efforts to combat
Trafficking in Persons (TIP). Kuwait had made progress and
was ranked as a Tier 2 Watch List country in the 2006 TIP
Report; the U.S. and GOK had a shared interest in seeing
further improvement in Kuwait's ranking. He provided the
Minster with a copy of the TIP Action Plan, stressing the
need for prosecution of those who exploit foreign workers.
He also left with the Minister copies of Project FALCon
(Fostering Awareness of Labor Conditions),a post-initiated
and ESF-funded project to inform Kuwait's expatriate working
class of their rights. (The nine-language brochure, made
possible with the support of source-country embassies,
addresses salary, residency, and law enforcement issues.)
Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid commended the effort and said the GOK
had begun designing a similar five-language brochure and had
bolstered efforts to work with source-country and GOK
embassies to educate workers before they arrive in Kuwait.
He said MOSAL was also strengthening collaboration with the
Ministry of Interior.

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

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