Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT359
2007-03-11 14:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
UNDP REPORTS PROGRESS ON KUWAIT-HOSTED LABOR
how-toVZCZCXRO1893 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0359 0701406 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111406Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8491 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0281 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0368 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0953 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0102 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 0556 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0382
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000359
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, INL/HSTC AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ELAB KU TIP
SUBJECT: UNDP REPORTS PROGRESS ON KUWAIT-HOSTED LABOR
CONFERENCE
REF: 06 KUWAIT 2235
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 000359
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, INL/HSTC AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ELAB KU TIP
SUBJECT: UNDP REPORTS PROGRESS ON KUWAIT-HOSTED LABOR
CONFERENCE
REF: 06 KUWAIT 2235
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) UNDP Kuwait Deputy Director Mohammad Al-Nassery
told PolOff on March 10 that the Minister of Social Affairs
and Labor (MOSAL) had written a letter formally approving a
Kuwait-hosted international labor conference in May. The
conference would bring together mid-level representatives of
labor-importing and exporting countries to discuss their
mutual rights and obligations. The UNDP has been working to
get approval to hold this conference for well over a year.
Al-Nassery believes that the approval of the conference will
not be reversed, even if the minister is replaced in the
current cabinet reshuffle. He noted that MOSAL had formed an
internal committee in recent weeks to prepare for the
conference. (Note: The GOK has given previous indications
that it would go forward with the conference, only to have
progress stop without explanation (ref A). End Note.)
2. (C/NF) Al-Nassery said he was happy the conference
seemed to have momentum but expressed concern about some of
the details. He noted that the UNDP's original aim had been
a UN-sponsored, ministerial-level conference that would
tackle major policy issues and produce a statement of
principles to which Kuwait and other Gulf countries could be
held accountable. The MOSAL approval is for a GOK-sponsored,
lower-level conference that deals with more detailed issues,
such as minimum wages and work conditions. The Minister of
Social Affairs and Labor (who just resigned along with the
entire cabinet) told Al-Nassery that the other GCC countries
had opposed a ministerial-level conference, but that he would
continue to lobby for a ministerial-level event. Al-Nassery
said that the UNDP plans to push for delaying the conference
until September. They hope this will give them time to lobby
for a more substantive, higher-level conference.
********************************************* *
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
NOFORN
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP, INL/HSTC AND G/TIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ELAB KU TIP
SUBJECT: UNDP REPORTS PROGRESS ON KUWAIT-HOSTED LABOR
CONFERENCE
REF: 06 KUWAIT 2235
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) UNDP Kuwait Deputy Director Mohammad Al-Nassery
told PolOff on March 10 that the Minister of Social Affairs
and Labor (MOSAL) had written a letter formally approving a
Kuwait-hosted international labor conference in May. The
conference would bring together mid-level representatives of
labor-importing and exporting countries to discuss their
mutual rights and obligations. The UNDP has been working to
get approval to hold this conference for well over a year.
Al-Nassery believes that the approval of the conference will
not be reversed, even if the minister is replaced in the
current cabinet reshuffle. He noted that MOSAL had formed an
internal committee in recent weeks to prepare for the
conference. (Note: The GOK has given previous indications
that it would go forward with the conference, only to have
progress stop without explanation (ref A). End Note.)
2. (C/NF) Al-Nassery said he was happy the conference
seemed to have momentum but expressed concern about some of
the details. He noted that the UNDP's original aim had been
a UN-sponsored, ministerial-level conference that would
tackle major policy issues and produce a statement of
principles to which Kuwait and other Gulf countries could be
held accountable. The MOSAL approval is for a GOK-sponsored,
lower-level conference that deals with more detailed issues,
such as minimum wages and work conditions. The Minister of
Social Affairs and Labor (who just resigned along with the
entire cabinet) told Al-Nassery that the other GCC countries
had opposed a ministerial-level conference, but that he would
continue to lobby for a ministerial-level event. Al-Nassery
said that the UNDP plans to push for delaying the conference
until September. They hope this will give them time to lobby
for a more substantive, higher-level conference.
********************************************* *
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