Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUWAIT210
2009-03-10 09:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT'S PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS MAY STALL LABOR BILL
how-toVZCZCXRO4922 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0210 0690930 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 100930Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2939 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3226 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000210
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIP ELAB PREL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT'S PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS MAY STALL LABOR BILL
REF: A. KUWAIT 101
B. KUWAIT 161
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000210
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIP ELAB PREL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT'S PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS MAY STALL LABOR BILL
REF: A. KUWAIT 101
B. KUWAIT 161
1. (U) During the March 3-5 session, Kuwait's National
Assembly discussed the new labor bill (Ref A) but was unable
to vote it into law due to a lack of quorum. The Assembly
postponed the vote until March 17, the next scheduled
session. However, supporters of the bill are now concerned
that the bill's progress may be stalled by an expected
grilling of the Prime Minister, a cabinet resignation, or
parliamentary dissolution (Ref B).
2. (U) A proposed amendment to the bill would require Kuwaiti
companies applying for foreign worker visas to specify the
exact number of workers they need and have the validity of
this number confirmed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and
Labor. During the March 4 session, twenty-one MPs voted in
favor of this amendment and eighteen voted against it. MP
Ahmed Al-Saadoun, the parliament's longest serving member and
head of the Popular Action Bloc, supported the amendment. He
argued that the current policy of allowing companies to
provide their own, unverified estimate of how many foreign
workers they need only encourages visa trading and human
trafficking.
--------------
Background
--------------
3. (U) On January 29, the parliament voted 43-0 to review a
new labor bill which would increase foreign workers, annual
leave and the amount of time required for notices of
termination. On February 11, the National Assembly sent the
bill back down to committee for amendments. Just before this
March 3-5 session, the committee finished amending the bill
and submitted it for the agenda.
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIP ELAB PREL KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT'S PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS MAY STALL LABOR BILL
REF: A. KUWAIT 101
B. KUWAIT 161
1. (U) During the March 3-5 session, Kuwait's National
Assembly discussed the new labor bill (Ref A) but was unable
to vote it into law due to a lack of quorum. The Assembly
postponed the vote until March 17, the next scheduled
session. However, supporters of the bill are now concerned
that the bill's progress may be stalled by an expected
grilling of the Prime Minister, a cabinet resignation, or
parliamentary dissolution (Ref B).
2. (U) A proposed amendment to the bill would require Kuwaiti
companies applying for foreign worker visas to specify the
exact number of workers they need and have the validity of
this number confirmed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and
Labor. During the March 4 session, twenty-one MPs voted in
favor of this amendment and eighteen voted against it. MP
Ahmed Al-Saadoun, the parliament's longest serving member and
head of the Popular Action Bloc, supported the amendment. He
argued that the current policy of allowing companies to
provide their own, unverified estimate of how many foreign
workers they need only encourages visa trading and human
trafficking.
--------------
Background
--------------
3. (U) On January 29, the parliament voted 43-0 to review a
new labor bill which would increase foreign workers, annual
leave and the amount of time required for notices of
termination. On February 11, the National Assembly sent the
bill back down to committee for amendments. Just before this
March 3-5 session, the committee finished amending the bill
and submitted it for the agenda.
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES