NORTH KOREAN LABORERS VIE FOR EMPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001114

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, EAP/K FOR ERICHARDSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM KTIP KU KN ZO
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN LABORERS VIE FOR EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES IN KUWAIT

Classified By: Political Counselor Pete O'Donohue for reasons 1.4 b and
d

Summary
--------------


1. (C) In response to rumors that North Korean laborers -- a
group with a small silhouette on the Kuwaiti landscape --
were particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, Embassy
queried local Korean and MFA sources about the status of
those workers. The sources claim that the approximately 4000
North Koreans in Kuwait work exclusively in the construction
sector and face no exceptional difficulties. They are,
however, recruited, vetted, and hired by DPRK-run agencies,
an indication that their movement in Kuwait is restricted, as
is the case with other expatriate laborers, and that they may
not be afforded an opportunity to address grievances. End
summary.

DPRK Hand in Recruiting North Korean Laborers for Kuwait
-------------- --------------


2. (C) In response to concerns regarding the treatment of
North Korean laborers in Kuwait -- a Tier III TIP offender --
Poloff queried Republic of Korea Counselor and Labor Officer
Young Il Lee on October 27 about the status of North Korean
workers in Kuwait. Lee, who follows North Korean activities
closely, told Poloff that the approximately 4000 North Korean
laborers in Kuwait are "elite" North Koreans, well-educated
and with connections that afford them the opportunity to
obtain such "lucrative" positions overseas. Lee added that
the chance to obtain a laborer position in Kuwait is sought
after by many thousands of DPRK nationals, who vie for only a
limited supply of available jobs -- all in the construction
sector. According to Lee, requests for employees typically
in blocs of 500 are made by the host Kuwaiti construction
company to a North Korean subcontractor, which recruits and
vets each laborer for the position. The North Korean agents,
Lee noted, all belong to DPRK state-run enterprises,
affirming the suspicion that the DPRK directly or indirectly
controls the movement of expatriate North Korean labor to
Kuwait and the terms of employment while in country. With
such high competition for jobs, Lee opined that the laborers
were charged exorbitant bribes by the DPRK agents, an
allegation we have not been able to confirm.

No Complaints from Community
--------------


3. (C) Lee said that local salaries earned by North Korean
laborers in Kuwait, approximately USD 300 a month vice the
USD 5 monthly wage prevalent in North Korea, enticed North
Korean laborers to apply for positions in Kuwait. Lee added
that even if "accommodation and company fees" were deducted
from salaries -- as he believed they were -- the laborers
still stand to make considerably more in Kuwait than in North
Korea. The living conditions of the North Korean laborers in
Kuwait are unclear, but Lee presumed that most live in groups
of 200-300 men in camps located at 10 or more large
construction sites around Kuwait city. The workers are
almost exclusively male and appear constrained to leave their
families behind in North Korea.


4. (C) Attempting to dispel Emboff concerns of trafficking
or other human rights violations, Lee emphasized how
attractive Kuwait is to the workers; the workers here have
free time and "they're not starving." Highlighting a certain
level of satisfaction with life here, Lee said the South
Korean Embassy recorded only one North Korean defection in
Kuwait, and that occurred in 1995. He compared this number
to the hundreds of potential defection requests daily
awaiting disposition at the South Korean Embassy in Ulan
Bataar and other South Korean missions around the world.


5. (C) Kuwaiti MFA Asia Desk Officer Rashed Al-Hejiri on
November 3 separately affirmed to Poloff Lee's remarks that
North Koreans face "no exceptional difficulties" in Kuwait,
i.e. none beyond those experienced by other expatriate
laborers. Al-Hejiri stressed that Kuwait's open press is now
focused on TIP -- largely in response to USG pressure on this
issue -- and that hardships suffered by a particular
community would be reported. He added that the North Korean
Ambassador has never raised any concerns about the treatment
of North Korean citizens with the Kuwaiti MFA. Al-Hejiri
also squelched rumors we have heard among local diplomats
that Kuwait has an interest in establishing regular air
service or a diplomatic presence in Pyongyang.

KUWAIT 00001114 002 OF 002








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JONES