KUWAIT CITY : Kuwait is keen on solving the problems of expatriate workers and ending human trafficking through the assistance of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which will enhance the skills of employees at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and train them to effectively handle human trafficking cases, sources from the Ministry told the Arab Times Wednesday. This came during Social Affairs and Labor Minister Bader Al-Duwailah’s tour of the shelter for runaway domestic workers in Kheitan. Sources said the Minister checked the quality of services offered in the center as well as its level of compliance with the law and human rights regulations. Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Legal Affairs at the Ministry Jamal Al-Dousari discussed labor-related issues with acting representative of IOM in Kuwait Fawzi Zayoub in a closed-door meeting with the presence of Information Affairs Supervisor Hammed Al-Mutairi.
Cooperation
Speaking to the Arab Times after the meeting, Zayoub said both parties discussed the increasing level of cooperation between IOM and the Ministry in terms of developing a joint program to address human trafficking issues and train Ministry employees how to handle such cases. They also talked about the proposed amendments on existing regulations and legal panels at the Ministry. Pointing out that IOM consists of international experts in various fields, Zayoub also unveiled plans to present a list of recommendations to provide Kuwait with the required skills and experiences based on a request from the Kuwaiti government.
Describing the meeting as fruitful as it focused on the problems of expatriate workers and human trafficking in the country, Zayoub said IOM organized training courses for a number of officials from the ministries of interior, social affairs and labor in Bahrain a few months ago. The courses were aimed at teaching the officials various ways to handle human trafficking cases in addition to the efficient management of shelters for runaway domestic workers. Zayoub added the training courses were very successful, confirming IOM will offer the same courses to interior ministry officials by mid-October. Clarifying the concerned officials in Kuwait are well-experienced in handling human trafficking cases and expatriate labor problems, Zayoub said the officials are bent on improving their skills to be on par with international standards.
By Al-Sayed Al-Qasas
Special to the Arab Times
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Arab Times
‘Kuwait could deport 11,000 expats’
KUWAIT CITY, March 10: Kuwait will deport 11,000 expatriate workers after the issuance of a decision to close files of sponsors involved in human trafficking and establishment of illusory companies, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a reliable source from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. According to the source, the ministry has prepared a comprehensive report about the human trafficking cases in Kuwait, ahead of the US State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which will be released by the middle of this year.
The report states that Kuwait is bent on clearing its name over human trafficking accusations. It highlighted negative comments about Kuwait, which include the absence of a law to incriminate those involved in human trafficking and incompetence of personnel in charge of human trafficking victims. This has prompted the ministry to coordinate with its justice counterpart and other relevant government authorities to lay down a draft bill to curb human trafficking and people smuggling. The draft bill has been finalized and referred to the Cabinet, which will pave the way for its submission to the National Assembly for voting. Both ministries are also exerting efforts to establish a higher authority to support the expatriate workers.
Despite claims that Kuwait has taken positive steps to remove its name from the TIP watch list, Kuwait received a letter from the charge d’ affaires of the American Embassy in Kuwait mid-last year, warning that the country might retain its ranking in the watch list if it fails to take the necessary measures to curb human trafficking, and provide training to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor employees on how to deal with the victims of human trafficking.
The reports also mentioned the establishment of a shelter in Kheitan for expatriates who run away from their sponsors, indicating several international and Arab delegations visited and praised the center, but they all demanded for more procedures. In response to such demands, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor asked its education counterpart to provide more schools as temporary shelters for the expatriate workers, as well as its finance counterpart to allocate the required budget for the construction of shelters in various governorates.
Meanwhile, the report has also underscored the fact that the employees assigned at the shelter have undergone various training courses at Johns Hopkins University in the US, in addition to a workshop conducted under the supervision of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which was held in Bahrain several months ago. The report has also confirmed that the human trafficking victims have been provided with the necessary services, such as psychological and medical services, through an integrated team, consisting of representatives from the concerned ministries.
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This has been one of Kuwait’s biggest problems and the government has been making efforts to address this problem. Why do you think until now they were unable to resolve this matter? How many amnesty programs had been enacted yet illegal immigration worsened. Illegal Immigrants keep breaking loose. Did anyone care to wonder why?
If appropriate laws could have been made, and competence and ability to enforce the law, this could have not gone this far. Since Kuwait has no law to incriminate those involved in human trafficking, it is a very good opportunity for criminal minds to do business.
Here are some things I know about this trade. People from neighboring countries, south-east Asia and Africa who wishes to seek employment in Kuwait can actually buy article 18 visas costing from 800KD to 3000KD depending on validity period. What!!!??? WTF! Don’t accuse me of defamation for I have proofs, I witnessed and have been in one of its operations.
Here’s how they do it. People from other countries who wish to acquire article 18 visas after a payment of half the visa price will be granted temporary commercial visa including plane tickets from a bribed show-off-company sent via courier. After they arrived in Kuwait they will pay the other half of the visa price and have their medical tests and finger printing taken. After a week, if they get lucky, they can take their medical card and civil ID. Since they bought their visas, they are not obliged to render work to the show-off-company, and often opt to apply locally.
Here’s how the problem arises. Those who were unfortunate enough after arriving in Kuwait, paid the visa in full, and had taken medical tests and finger printing but still had not have their medical cards and civil ID released will wait and remain illegal expat indefinitely. Those who were lucky who got hold of their visas managed to find jobs locally and preferred not to transfer their visas to the hiring company for practical reasons, and mostly companies preferred it that way too to avoid financial and other consequent burdens. The sad fact is that after the visa has expired there is no way it can be renewed since it has not been transferred to the hiring company. Most stay in Kuwait with their expired bought visas.
Here’s worse. Those unfortunate ones who haven’t had their visas released, and those lucky ones who had their visas, after visa expiration, preferred to stay in Kuwait illegally. Overstay fine in Kuwait, “karama”, is 2KD per day. Of all those years of overstay, do you think they will be able to pay and leave Kuwait that easy? Even if they can avail the amnesty program others would come adding to the numbers.
Here’s worst. As long as there are culprits who took advantage and made business out of this enticement, there is no way illegal immigration and human trafficking be abated. They are organized. They have their own offices, “mandouf”, secretaries, “wastas” and bunch of government connections… Well, of course I would be optimistic if I were them. There is no law incriminating those involved in human trafficking. How can I be punished?... Or maybe also because of pride and ego of the Kuwaiti government to refuse to reconcile that their own people(Kuwaitis) are doing the crimes and mostly government employees. Imagine 11000 illegal expats not including those unapprehended. Where did these people come from? How did they able to get entry in Kuwait in the first place? How did they elude the authority? Imagine if there are 10 organization operating in this business and each of them can acquire 10 expats in a month, how many could they accumulate in a year? Don’t be surprised in years to come Kuwait will be overcrowded with expats.
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This is the place where the contents of this blog is all about. Feel free to visit the place in case it boils your curiosity or doubts...
The office. . .
The reception. . .
The main door. . .
Down the stairs to the main door. . .
On the first floor. . .
Down the stairs. . .
The signage. . .
The entrance. . .
The building. . .
