Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT632
2006-02-23 09:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
NEW SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR MINISTER RECEPTIVE TO
how-toVZCZCXRO6197 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHKU #0632 0540939 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 230939Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3160 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000632
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KU TIP
SUBJECT: NEW SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR MINISTER RECEPTIVE TO
U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT EXPAT LABOR ISSUES
REF: A. KUWAIT 475
B. KUWAIT 305
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000632
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KU TIP
SUBJECT: NEW SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR MINISTER RECEPTIVE TO
U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT EXPAT LABOR ISSUES
REF: A. KUWAIT 475
B. KUWAIT 305
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador met February 22 with new Minister for
Social Affairs and Labor Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah to
congratulate him on his post and used the occasion to raise
U.S. concerns about the insufficient protection of expatriate
worker rights. The Ambassador stated that protection of the
rights of domestic workers and other categories of employees
vulnerable to exploitation was a U.S. foreign policy
priority.
2. (C) The Minister responded that he was concerned about the
problem and has already begun a dialogue with some MPs on the
issue. He continued that the major trafficking culprits were
local firms and the expatriates working with them, with the
latter recruiting people from their countries who are then
brought to Kuwait. Shaykh Ali noted that a minimum wage and
changes to the labor law were necessary. The Ambassador
mentioned that a GOK-run shelter would go a long way to
solving the problem, adding that the Kuwaiti Union of
Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO) was working to address the
condition of domestic laborers. Shaykh Ali said he thought
KUDLO's proposals were just designed to help it dodge the
Ministry's supervision, given its members' interest in
carrying out their business of recruiting and placing
domestics without government constraints. He said he
welcomed U.S. suggestions for how to combat the problem and
noted that Kuwait had agreed with UNDP and other UN agencies
to host an international conference on expatriate worker
issues in the Gulf (ref A).
Bio Note
--------------
3. (U) Shaykh Ali was born in 1950. He served at the
Kuwaiti Embassy in Iran from 1973 - 1975. Since that time, he
has worked in banking in Kuwait and other Gulf states. He is
a member of the Kuwaiti ruling family.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
LEBARON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KU TIP
SUBJECT: NEW SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR MINISTER RECEPTIVE TO
U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT EXPAT LABOR ISSUES
REF: A. KUWAIT 475
B. KUWAIT 305
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador met February 22 with new Minister for
Social Affairs and Labor Shaykh Ali Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah to
congratulate him on his post and used the occasion to raise
U.S. concerns about the insufficient protection of expatriate
worker rights. The Ambassador stated that protection of the
rights of domestic workers and other categories of employees
vulnerable to exploitation was a U.S. foreign policy
priority.
2. (C) The Minister responded that he was concerned about the
problem and has already begun a dialogue with some MPs on the
issue. He continued that the major trafficking culprits were
local firms and the expatriates working with them, with the
latter recruiting people from their countries who are then
brought to Kuwait. Shaykh Ali noted that a minimum wage and
changes to the labor law were necessary. The Ambassador
mentioned that a GOK-run shelter would go a long way to
solving the problem, adding that the Kuwaiti Union of
Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO) was working to address the
condition of domestic laborers. Shaykh Ali said he thought
KUDLO's proposals were just designed to help it dodge the
Ministry's supervision, given its members' interest in
carrying out their business of recruiting and placing
domestics without government constraints. He said he
welcomed U.S. suggestions for how to combat the problem and
noted that Kuwait had agreed with UNDP and other UN agencies
to host an international conference on expatriate worker
issues in the Gulf (ref A).
Bio Note
--------------
3. (U) Shaykh Ali was born in 1950. He served at the
Kuwaiti Embassy in Iran from 1973 - 1975. Since that time, he
has worked in banking in Kuwait and other Gulf states. He is
a member of the Kuwaiti ruling family.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
LEBARON