When it comes time to leave Kuwait

From today's Arab Times, the joys of leaving Kuwait...

Boss refuses to hand over Colombian’s passport; Top officials help end expat’s ordeal

Imagine being in a place where your country has no diplomatic relations and unexpectedly find yourself in trouble with your employer... all because you refuse to hand over your passport. A Colombian national working for a car armoring company never had any inkling that he would one day get into trouble for refusing to hand his passport to his employer. Thirty year old Jimmy Alexander Cuellar Pineda, a native of Bogota, an armored car technician was among a group of seven Colombians hired in their country to work in Kuwait; arriving in the country in early 2006. “Everything went well at first. After one year, I asked and was allowed to go for three months leave to visit my family, especially my 10-year old daughter who I am very fond of,” says Jimmy in a recent interview with the Arab Times.

After almost a year and a half since he came back from vacation, business dwindled down and there was not much work to be done and according to Jimmy, he told his boss he would like to go on leave. But his employer reportedly told him he needs him around as he expects new orders coming in.
Co-workers “As there was no work to be done, our Filipino co-workers would spend most of their time playing basketball while the rest of us would try to find anything to do to keep from being bored,” says Jimmy. Weeks and months went by and still nothing happened so he approached his boss once more but this time, not to go on holiday but to leave for good. He said his employer tried to persuade him to stay as his services will be needed, again with the same excuse that new orders will be coming in shortly, but he said he has already made up his mind.

In early morning of Friday, August 1, he said his boss came to the house where he was staying in Qurtoba and asked for his passport. When he asked what for, he was told all employees’ passports must be deposited with the company but he refused, telling his boss, “I have to hold on to my passport as we have no embassy here. Besides, I had this with me ever since I arrived in this country and you did not require me then to hand it over, why only now,” he reportedly told his boss who immediately left.
Later that day, he said he got a call from a Filipino friend inviting him for lunch at a Filipino restaurant in downtown Kuwait City but when he was about to leave, found the doors locked. At this, he called an Indian national working in the house and asked why the doors were locked and to open it because he was going out.
The guy told him it was his employer’s order to lock the door. He then said he called up his boss to ask why he was being locked inside the house and his boss reportedly asked him where he was going and told him to wait as he would come by to take him there.
After about an hour, his boss arrived with the company “mandoob” or liaison officer and they drove him to the downtown restaurant where his Filipino friend was waiting but his boss reportedly told him he could be planning something with his friend and again asked for his passport-adamantly, this time but he still refused.
Then his boss told him to get back in the car and they drove to a nearby police station in Salhiya.
At the station, the mandoob got down and went inside while he and his boss waited in the car. The latter reportedly asked him if he was not afraid of the police to which he replied he was not because he has done nothing wrong.
After a while, the mandoob came back and they all went inside the station and while waiting for someone, his boss again asked that he hand over his passport but he still refused. Then, the mandoob returned and escorted them to an office where a police official waited.
The official, who he said spoke just a little English, reportedly asked him if he knows Arabic and he replied no.
Passport
Then, he said his boss and the police official talked to each other and saw the former take out a business card and handed it to the latter. Afterwards, the police official, in broken English asked to see his passport. He said he handed it to the official who, after some cursory look returned it to him. Apparently, the officer was aware that it was prohibited to take a foreign national’s passport from him.
Instead, the official persuaded him to give the passport to his employer telling him it was alright and that it was common practice for employers to hold these for safekeeping purposes. “Under pressure at the time, I reluctantly obliged,” Jimmy recounted.
After that, his employer let him go but instead of returning to his place, wary that he might be locked in again, he decided to go somewhere else and called a friend who got him in touch with people from the diplomatic community who readily extended their help upon learning of his travails; these good Samaritans also helped him get in touch with his country’s nearest diplomatic mission which was in Beirut, Lebanon.
“I also called my company in Colombia to apprise them of my problem and they said they will try to contact the nearest Colombian embassies in the region, in Cairo and in Beirut, to extend whatever assistance to me,” Jimmy said.
The Colombian Embassy in Beirut reportedly told him they could issue him a new passport and send it to him immediately. But, he said, without a residence stamped, a new passport would be useless and he still would not be able to leave Kuwait, leaving him in a quandary. His benefactors did not abandon him. They put him up in a safe place in comfortable quarters and took care of his personal needs as well.
Not only that, they brought his case to the attention of UN agencies which then contacted local officials to apprise them of his situation. Because of it, he received a call from his employer asking him to report to the company to talk things over amicably. Wary but with the assurance of his “new” friends, he went to see his employer.
On their meeting, his employer reportedly told him there was no need to take the issue up with authorities, and that he can leave anytime but must submit his resignation letter first as a pre-requisite to cancel his residence.
He then left to prepare the resignation letter and sent it by courier right after. But half an hour later, he got a call from his boss’ secretary informing him they have not received it.
He said he immediately called one of his one friends at the company, his supervisor and compatriot who advised him to email his resignation letter to him and he would be the one to take it to their boss.
Resignation
Two days went by before he received a call from the secretary that they already have his resignation letter but that he should come to affix his signature.
“I immediately went to our office and after signing the resignation letter, my boss told the secretary to give me money, about ten days worth of pay which I said, I do not really need but my passport,” says Jimmy.

His employer reportedly then told him to sign a document written in Arabic but he politely refused, saying he could not sign anything that he does not understand, and asked to be excuse for a while, taking the paper with him. He said he called up an Arab friend who came after about two hours and after reading the paper said it was alright to sign it, as it was only a requirement before his residence will be cancelled. He said his boss angrily asked him where he went and why it took him so long just to sign the paper. Afterwards, he was told that in three days time, the mandoob will accompany him to the shoun for the cancellation of his residence. That day came and this time, his residence was finally cancelled but still, his employer would not give him back his passport.

It was only after two weeks that he was finally able to get hold of his passport but not before pressure was exerted on his employer by a high ranking government official after calls from the Colombian government that it would lodge a protest with the Kuwaiti government over the treatment of one of their nationals, and from two UN agencies in Kuwait. “I could not remember of any problem whatsoever, that I may have had with my employer or my co-workers,” Jimmy said during the interview with the Arab Times at an undisclosed place a couple of weeks before his ordeal came to an end when he was finally able to leave the country through the help of good Samaritans. After thanking his benefactors and everyone who helped in his case, Jimmy Alexander Cuellar Pineda finally left Kuwait last Friday, Sept 5 taking with him unpleasant memories of his ordeal.

By Boie Conrad Dublin
Arab Times Staff

This is why I would advise, if you don't intend to come back to Kuwait, buy your own ticket if you can afford it and leave on a holiday, then submit your resignation... Of course, as I intended to visit Kuwait for business (and pleasure!?) in the future I went through the pain of returning to Kuwait and suffering at the hands of the bank's HR department and Kuwaiti bureaucracy for 3 days at my own expense so I could get my working permit and visa officially cancelled and get my final dues which had been withheld... and then missed my flight on the 3rd day as I waited for my passport to be returned. I was still fortunate. If I had been in dispute with my Employer it would no doubt have been worse.

Kuwait must implement anti-human trafficking measures

And finally for today, it seems like Kuwait will drop back down to level 3 in the USA's State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.

Kuwait must intensify efforts to tackle human trafficking problem

KUWAIT CITY : Kuwait might again land in Tier 3 in the US Security Department’s Trafficking-in Persons (TIP) report for 2008, Charge d’ Affaires at the US Embassy in Kuwait Alan Misenheimer told Al-Qabas. In a letter forwarded to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Misenheimer clarified Kuwait was included in Tier 3 in the 2007 TIP report but was later put in Tier 2 through a presidential decree issued in Oct, 2007. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000 lists three factors to be considered in determining whether a country should be in Tier 2 (or Tier 2 Watch List) or in Tier 3: the extent to which the country is a country of origin, transit or destination for severe forms of trafficking; the extent to which the government of the country does not comply with TVPA’s minimum standards, in particular, the extent of the government’s trafficking-related corruption; and the resources and capabilities of the government to address and eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. Governments that do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so are placed in Tier 3.

Concrete
Misenheimer explained Kuwait was placed in Tier 2 after its government took concrete steps to address the issue, which include the establishment of a shelter for runaway household helpers, enactment of the anti-trafficking law, and increased number of trials and verdicts on trafficking in persons cases. He added the government also offered training programs for law enforcement officers, lawyers and judges on ways to enhance their skills in investigating and prosecuting human traffickers and identifying the victims. However, Misenheimer pointed out these steps are not enough as Kuwait failed to make and remarkable progress and this might result in its being placed in Tier 3 again in the 2008 TIP report. He called on the Kuwaiti authorities to intensify their efforts to address the problem. He also proposed the issuance of an Amiri decree to combat human trafficking in the country and serve as an example to other countries. He said the US Embassy is willing to help Kuwait eradicate this negative phenomenon. On the other hand, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor assessed the existing laws in Kuwait vis-à-vis a proposed anti-trafficking bill and found a number of similarities.

Proven
Article 179 of Kuwait’s law stipulates a punishment of life imprisonment on anyone proven to have abducted a person below 21 years old which, the Ministry said, is also included in the proposed bill. Other similarities found include Article 184 on imposing a three-year jail term on those trafficking in domestic workers while Article 185 stipulates a maximum of five years imprisonment for those who ‘buy or sell’ a person as a slave.

Once again no doubt, we will see lots of denial, attempts to shift blame (it's all a jewish conspiracy, how dare the USA comment on our problems when they have their own problems such as Guantanamo, Abu-Graib, etc, blah, blah, blah...) and pleading to get back up to level 2 again. And, Bush will probably cave in again. I wonder if the next President will be as easily coerced.

Deport the alleged troublemakers

On a roll today. The Arab Times this time.

Pinoys’ deportation delayed

KUWAIT CITY : The deportation of the seven Filipino truck drivers who were accused of allegedly leading a protest in one of the trucking companies in Kuwait last month was called off on Sunday due to the non-cancellation of their work visas on their passports, disclosed on Monday Philippine Labour Attache Leopoldo De Jesus to the Arab Times. He informed that the seven Filipino workers were already on their way to the airport on Sunday night when they were informed by authorities that they have to go back to the deportation centre since the company did not cancel their work permits at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.

Fly
“Hopefully, they can fly anytime within this week as soon as the cancellation process has been done and the rebooking of their air tickets,” pointed out De Jesus. He added that five of the seven workers received all their termination benefits from their company while the two workers authorised the Philippine Overseas Labour Office to claim the benefits on their behalf. “We tried our best to help them so they can be freed and continue with their jobs but we have to abide by the law of Kuwait and respect the decision of Kuwaiti authorities,” stressed De Jesus. It may be recalled that these seven workers were arrested for allegedly instigating their co-workers to stage a sit-in protest that led to a commotion between the workers and the police that partly damaged one of the police cars.

Why are they deporting only the Filipinos? They were not the ones who damaged the car. They were inside the police car when the other workers swarmed into the vehicle and damaged its windows. Why put the blame only on the Filipinos? How about the other nationals” lamented one of the truck drivers who pities the seven Filipino workers.

About 400 workers mostly truck drivers of various nationalities namely Filipinos, Indians, Egyptians, Nepalese, Bangladeshi and Pakistanis participated in the mass action on April 16 to demand from the c ompany an increase in their basic salary from KD 100-110 to KD 250 per month and an increase in their per trip allowance due to the hike in the prices of basic commodities in Kuwait and the low foreign exchange rate. Most of the truck drivers who ply to Iraq demanded an increase in the per trip allowance from KD 10 to KD 40 while those who ply within Kuwait demanded an increase from KD 3 to KD 15 per trip. De Jesus earlier met with the management who vowed to look into the workers’ demands. Most of the truck drivers resume work as they wait for the decision of the company to act on their demands.

By Michelle Fe Santiago
Special to the Arab Times

How dare foreigners allegedly protest their conditions of slavery. Just deport the alleged troublemakers, if we can sort out their paperwork... and we all know that those pesky Pinoys are pretty bolshie when they get treated poorly. You couldn't make up this farce if you tried.

Good luck Mr Avery fighting the Kuwaiti (in)justice system

Another interesting insight into Kuwait's (in)justice system...

An American in Kuwait fights for his name, rights

Published Date: May 13, 2008
By Nawara Fattahova, Staff writer

KUWAIT: It's hard when somebody is falsely accused of committing a crime. And the situation becomes more difficult if this person loses his job and his reputation is defamed. The case of Allan Avery, an American citizen, who was employed with a US military contracting company working in Kuwait is not decided yet. But Avery claims he was innocent and is fighting charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession in Kuwait in order to prove his claim and clear his name.

Avery's ordeal began late last year. On the night of Oct 27, he was arrested along with two other American contractors while sitting in a car in Sabah Al-Salem area. He was taken to jail and detained for 12 days without charge. Finally, he was sent to the Public Prosecution and charged with drug trafficking, abandonment, and illegal possession of drugs. All three tested negative for drugs, Avery says.

According to Avery when the police searched him and the car, they didn't find any illegal substances on him. The other two accused were found to be in possession of small amounts of marijuana. But police claimed that Avery threw "something" from the car when he saw the cop's car approaching.

The police let me take my clothes off, and they didn't find anything. I was imprisoned for nothing. I lost my job and now I'm living with my friend," Avery told the Kuwait Times yesterday during the third session of his trial at the Court of First Instance in Kuwait City at the Palace of Justice. Avery has already entered a plea of not guilty. His two companions from that night both fled Kuwait after being released from jail.

Avery has not only suffered legal problems. He was also fired from his job. After being released, his company terminated him on November 26, 2007 although his case is not yet finished and he hasn't been found guilty.

The company wanted to get rid of me so they took a blood sample of me at the office and stated it was positive. They thought I will leave, thus on the same day I went to a private clinic and made the blood test there, and the result was negative. The other two accused left the country after they were released, but I preferred to stay to prove my innocence," say the towering American. Abdulmajeed Khuraibit, Avery's lawyer presented a verbal defense attacking the procedure of the police. Two judges presided over the Avery's case, which will have a verdict by May 26.

A growing number of Americans, many of them connected to the military contracting business, have been associated with the illicit drug and alcohol trade in Kuwait in the last year or so. In April 2007, the US Embassy issued a warden's message reminding American citizens here that they are subject to the local laws including those prohibiting the use or trade of alcohol or narcotics.

Those arrested for possession or trade of those substances are dealt with harshly by Kuwaiti law enforcement," the notice explained. The Embassy notice also warned US citizens that the Embassy "cannot intervene to free Americans who have been arrested, nor can it represent Americans at trial, give legal advice or pay legal fees and/or fines with US Government funds.

The common practice for those arrested for such crimes is to flee the country rather than face a travel ban and try to navigate Kuwait's labyrinth legal system. But as Avery points out, he's stayed to fight to clear his name, even though he could have fled. As his lawyer points out, evidence against Avery is slim, as no drugs were actually found on him or in his blood or urine.

The police noted the place where Avery and the other two were caught was a suspect place, which is not true. They also smelled inside the car, while there should be a trained dog for this job. How can the police report register that he was caught in action, while no drugs were found with him?" Khuraibit asked. "My client doesn't even smoke!

Of course, he could be guilty as sin, and his innocence totally fabricated.

MEW's latest brainwave

The latest brainfart from the Ministry of Electricity & Water (MEW) as commented on by Badrya Darwish in today's Kuwait Times...

No release, no travel!!!

Published Date: May 13, 2008

By Badrya Darwish

To improve human rights so we can rise to the minimum international standards, the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has decided to ask all expatriates before exiting the country - whether on holiday or permanently - to obtain a certificate of clearance from the ministry. The certificate is only valid for one month. If the expat doesn't have it, he will be returning from the airport the same day with his family, his luggage, etc.

This is beautiful. Instead of advancing and updating our systems in the different ministries, especially as the government spent millions on computers and e-government programs and training and etc - we are going backwards. Why can't they update the way to check if people have paid their bills or not?

The MEW is also asking the Ministry of Interior to coordinate with it to implement the new regulation. Because the Interior is the ministry that controls the borders and exits and customs. MEW can't enforce it alone. May I remind the minister of water and electricity that it's not the expats who are failing to pay their bills. It's us, the Kuwaitis, because we feel safe and nobody can touch us and we are above the law. We're Kuwaitis. Can the Minister challenge me by producing the names of big families and big companies who have paid their electricity bills for years and years?

Or he only has the courage to attack expats? Why can't he organize his ministry like any other advanced country on earth. He has so many civil employees doing nothing. Sitting in their offices, drinking chai and chatting. Well, let them do something for a change. Open the stupid computer in front of them and start billing people. Do a proper billing system in Kuwait, for God's sake. If you don't know how to do it - and I'm sure you do - then ask experts from other countries. In modern systems, if people forget, they receive a reminder from the electric company. And then a second reminder and if you don't pay in the third warning, they'll cut your electricity. And arrange also for people to be able to pay. Have direct debit through their banks. Improve your billing system.

Then start screaming and put laws and regulations to ban people from travelling and putting them under the pain of queuing in front of the ministries to ask for this precious letter of clearance. What if people have to travel all of a sudden for business trips or emergency family leaves? How many more employees will you need to give letters of clearance? You have more than two million expats in Kuwait. How many offices will you have to open for all of them to obtain releases every time they travel? Especially in the summer period when it's time for everybody to travel. And may I ask you: What about Kuwaitis? What are you planning for us? Also we cannot travel? Is this your scheme for enhancing the power system and electricity in Kuwait? Is this your scheme for the coming summer?

Imagine the chaos if this were ever implemented, given that Kuwaiti landlords in probably 99% of cases are responsible for paying electricity and water bills for their tenants, under the terms of rental contracts stipulating electricity and water are included in the rent. Naturally, no bills are paid... not least because bills are never issued! And then every 18 months or so the Government wipes the accumulated debts anyway...

Next they'll be wanting access to everyone's bank accounts to deduct from their salaries like loan payments... oh, wait, they've already tried that only to be rebuffed by the banks!

Persecute the victims

Today's Arab Times couldn't go past without comment...

Ban on transfer of 'Iqama' for domestics within year

KUWAIT CITY: The Immigration General Department at the Ministry of Interior has instructed domestic servant offices not to deal with those who escaped from their previous sponsors 'as such people will pose problems both to the offices and their employers by their continuous escapes,' reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. Sources say the department discussed problems of this sector of people with Undersecretary at the Interior Ministry Lt General Ahmad Al-Rajeeb and he approved the instructions. Sources indicated that Assistant Undersecretary for Citizenship and Passport Affairs Major General Ahmad Al-Nawaf followed up these problems.

According to sources, acting Director of the department Colonel Bader Saleh Al-Hammadi and the Domestic Servants Department will act on the instructions and not transfer the residence permit of domestic servants to other sponsors if they are not reliable. Furthermore, a decision has been issued banning the transfer of residence permits of domestic servants to other sponsors before the completion of one year of stamping the previous permit. Sources say the decision will come into effect from July 1, 2008 and will be applicable on domestics of all nationalities except those from Bangladesh and Nepal.

Can you believe what these guys are doing? Hmmm, I know, let's persecute the victims a little bit more... whilst the criminals (abusive sponsors) continue to get off the hook. What is the Ministry of Interior thinking of? Are maids not human beings also? So if a slave happens to escape from their abusive slave-owner within a year, not only are the labeled a criminal (because they've escaped from their slave-owner), but now the slave traders are being officially stopped from selling them onto a new owner who potentially may treat them as a human being... Incredible, yes. Unexpected, no. And what exactly are the unfortunate maids supposed to do... a) seek shelter in their embassies, exacerbating the problem of the huge numbers of maids already stuck in limbo, or, b) be forced to work illegally, increasing the likelihood of abuse. It's not like they can hop on a plane and go home. So the vicious cycle continues to get worse.

How they came up with the Beijing Olympics logo

Research freedom?

In today's Kuwait Times...

Controversial research paper
KUWAIT: Officials from the Ahmadi security directorate summoned two students who wrote a controversial research paper stating that Kuwait was a part of Iraq. The two students were asked to make a research paper about Kuwait and the students wrote a paper about how Kuwait was part of Iraq. Upon reading the paper, the teacher handed it to the Ministry of Education who in turn handed it to the Ahmadi security directorate. The students told security officials that they had paid a man to write the paper for them and that they had no idea what was stated in the paper. The man who wrote the paper is now being summoned by security officials and the investigation is ongoing.

... where I come from the controversial bit would be the fact that students got someone else to write their research paper for them! Not so, in this part of the world... almost a fact of life I'm afraid, and its reflected in the Kuwaiti workplace.

So are security officials going to come after me if I were to research the pros and cons of Kuwait being a part of Iraq? This kind of reminds me of the (over)reaction of certain people to cartoons, or the recent naming of a teddybear...

Briton loses his cool - that's illegal!

Someone lost his cool recently when running into officialdom...

Briton vents fury on govt, Kuwaiti laws

KUWAIT CITY: A British citizen working for a local company allegedly abused and bad-mouthed a staff member of the Hawalli Pollution Testing Center after the latter told him that his car needed repairs.

Reportedly, the British man, accompanied by four semi-clad women, went to the Hawalli center to get his car checked. A staff member after checking the car told him that his car needed repairs and that he should come back after getting the repair job done.

This infuriated the British man and he started abusing the staffer, Kuwait and Kuwaiti laws loudly in public. Sources say the staffer warned that it was illegal to speak in such a manner but the accused did not heed him and drove off angrily.

The staffer noted the number plate of the car and reported the incident to his higher-ups. Securitymen found that the accused was working for a local company and sources say due legal action will be taken against him. 'Nobody is above the law and everybody should respect the laws of the country,' they added.

By Munaif Naif
Special to the Arab Times

Nobody is above the law... Yeah right. When the whole country runs on wasta it means that if you have the right wasta you are above the law. Period.

I don’t know any of the players in this incident, so this is just pure speculation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was nothing wrong with the car in question, and the Pollution tester was just being an ass and picking on someone to justify his existence. How many times in Kuwait do you see that? Maybe he was jealous of the four scantily clad ladies... what, they didn’t have abayas on? Maybe they were showing off some flabby white-skinned arms?

What exactly did the Britisher say that was illegal? That the jobsmith’s mother wore combat boots in bed? That corruption is so pervasive in Kuwait that you now have to bribe someone to pass a car pollution test? That Kuwait is a hell-hole, and that the Kuwaiti laws are an ass? Yeah, well there are probably lots of westerners that would agree with him on that. Not many would waste time on taking legal action... all it means is that the side with the biggest wasta wins. For the Britisher it means he better have a really good relationship with most senior Kuwaiti in his organisation if he wants to stay on in Kuwait. So either the Britisher will be fined/imprisoned/kicked out of the country, or it will be quietly swept under the carpet.

Round up all the expats and test 'em

That's right, blame the expats for the nation's ills. This was reported in the Arab Times, 18th September...

Rise in disease seen; ‘Check expats for AIDS, hepatitis’
KUWAIT CITY: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has instructed all ministries to send all their expatriate employees to the General Medical Board to ensure that they are free of AIDS, Hepatitis B and C and Pulmonary Tuberculosis, say reliable sources in the ministry. Reportedly, this precautionary measure is being taken to protect citizens and expatriates from contagious diseases as ministry employees come in direct contact with thousands of people daily.
Statistics compiled by the ministry show that there has been a rise of expatriates suffering from the aforesaid ailments despite the fact that they undergo necessary medical check-ups in their respective countries. Sources suspect that many expatriates produce fake medical reports before entering Kuwait.
By Abdul Rahman Al-Shimmari - Special to the Arab Times

What is this brainfart by the Ministry of Health? All expats coming to Kuwait for work undergo these tests on arriving in Kuwait anyway, even after they’ve already done the same tests in their home countries. Furthermore, the same tests are often undertaken if the expat changes employer. So whether or not the medical reports in the home countries are faked or not is irrelevant.

Do Kuwaiti staff have to undertake these tests??

I don’t disagree that there may be a huge problem with these diseases in Kuwait, but you have to look at the underlying reasons why that is so. The fact is that Kuwait is addicted to importing cheap foreign labour to do all the menial work in the country. The vast majority of this forced labour live in unsanitary conditions in labour camps, more akin to concentration camps - not really conducive to keeping a clean bill of health. And then as they are unable to lead normal family lives as they scrimp and save to send their earnings home to their families, if they get paid, many single men (or married men without their wives) may get involved in spending their spare dinars on “professionals” when they can’t resist their sexual urges, which would certainly not help the cause of restricting HIV cases. (And there’s always a ready supply of runaway maids that are eager to better their lot, or are forced into it – but that’s another issue).

So let’s see how we can solve this problem. Providing high quality labour accommodation is a start. Allowing foreign workers to bring their families is another basic human right. In fact, improving human rights of all imported workers and stopping the unscrupulous companies and agencies in the human trafficking trade would be beneficial in many ways. It would reduce the need to resort to crime for a start. How many labourers are either left on the streets to fend for themselves, or are treated from their employers in such a demeaning manner, that they don’t feel too bad at getting their own back on the employers or the country/system that allows this to happen!

Modern day slavery

Arab Times today has this wee gem reproduced below.

Expatriates bondsmen: ILO; End sponsorship system soon, GCC warned

KUWAIT CITY: The International Labor Organization (ILO) has criticized GCC countries for their sponsorship system and is planning to come up with an alternative procedure for the recruitment of expatriate workers, says Al-Rai. ILO described the sponsorship system as “an old model from the era of slavery,” saying “this allows sponsors to control their expatriate workers.” A reliable source said the existing sponsorship system has many negative points which make GCC countries a target of ILO’s criticisms, adding “although ILO has repeatedly asked GCC countries to change this system the latter have been remaining silent on this issue.” ILO has warned GCC states that the current system violates the rights of expatriate workers and leads to “Iqama trafficking” where expatriates are forced to buy residence permits to get jobs, he noted.

The source also said “ILO feels the sponsorship system is affecting the economy of GCC states by doubling the number of unwanted expatriate labourers who enter the job market by purchasing residence permits.” Claiming ILO has warned GCC countries that their membership in the organization will be suspended if they do not scrap the sponsorship system, the source said “the international organization has also cautioned GCC states that they will be placed in the list of countries which violate International Labor Law in the next ILO meeting scheduled to be held in Geneva in June 2008.”

Yes, the sponsorship system is "an old model from the era of slavery", but that's because slavery in everything but name still exists. Good to see that the ILO is getting a little closer to calling a 'spade' a spade.

Anyways, must toodle doo and buy me a maid...

Freedoms tested as journo jailed

Well it seems like the proverbial is hitting the fan - see article below reproduced from Kuwait Times today, and the word is out in the blogosphere. Hopefully the message is getting through that the State (In)Security Police need to toe the line and uphold the laws of the State... For Bashar and Jassem's sakes I hope the publicity of their experiences produces reform. It is worth noting that this is only one of many unpublicised cases. Bravo guys for standing up and not being intimated.

Headline News
Freedoms tested as journo jailed
Published Date: August 21, 2007
By Nawara Fattahova, Staff writer

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti journalist remained in detention yesterday after being transferred from State Security to the Public Prosecution. Bashar Al-Sayegh was arrested by state security officials Saturday evening over comments insulting to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah which were posted on Sayegh's personal website www.alommah.org. Late Monday evening, more than a hundred protestors comprising journalists, human rights activists, MPs and others converged at the premises of the National Democratic Coalition in Rawda in a unanimous show of solidarity against the actions of the state security forces.

The comments on Sayegh's were posted anonymously and according to reports, deleted by Sayegh 15 minutes after going live. Sayegh, a senior editor with Al-Jarida, provided the IP address of the anonymous poster to state security, but is now being investigated by the public prosecution. Sayegh is also a member the National Democratic Coalition. Rumors suggested that he had gone on a hunger strike but this could not be confirmed. Al-Jarida is owned by liberal MP Mohammad Al-Saqer.

A second Al-Jarida journalist, Jassem Al-Qames, was also taken into custody Saturday in front of the newspaper's headquarters. According to Al-Jarida, Qames tried to stop the arrest of -Sayegh, not knowing that the men, who were in civilian clothing, were from State Security. He then took photographs of the arrest, triggering his own detention. "When I took pictures, six detectives rushed to me and detained me. Then they pushed me towards three cars of state security," said Qames. He asked for their credentials, but according to him, they refused.

Qames claimed in the paper that the detectives assaulted him in the car on the way to state security headquarters in South Surra. He said the detectives took his mobile phone, camera, and wallet and before they arrived, one of detectives forced him to take off his shirt, then twisted it around his eyes and face. At the headquarters, he was taken into a room and interrogated, slapped and insulted and shouted at. Al-Qames said he was forced to sign a document with his fingerprints, even though he was blindfolded. He was released yesterday.

The speakers attending the protest in Rawda expressed their anger and dissent against the policies and maltreatment of the journalists by state security detectives. All of them demanded the immediate release of Sayegh and also agreed to unmask the person responsible for posting the insulting comment online.

MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun expressed his fears on the treatment meted towards young men involved in crimes at the hands of state security detectives. "I call for eliminating the State Security Department. We must find out who was behind this arrest, and he must be punished. We will not accept a repetition of this crime in the future. We must fight corruption," he charged.

Qames, the journalist who was released yesterday, didn't describe the details of his arrest at the gathering. "They released me in the heat without my mobile and just said "go". I was kidnapped by professional bandits who brought me to the State Security Department with my eyes blindfolded. They beat me up and told me that they had also brought Bashar's personal effects there. They thought they could threaten me so I wouldn't talk. They were wrong. I can now say whatever I want, and all these people here will support me," he said.

Qames also mentioned the plight of bedoons and even Kuwaitis arrested by the State Security Department. "They don't have anybody to ask about them. They have no protection and most of them are treated in the most inhumane way. I also was arrested in an illegal way, for just taking a photograph of the illegal arrest. We hope Bashar will be released tomorrow, and he will tell us the details," he added.

MP Ahmad Al-Mulaifi, who had just arrived in Kuwait, was shocked by the terrifying news of the arrest of the two journalists. "I'm disappointed with our present situation. Kuwait has always been known for its democracy and freedom of the media. We could criticize the parliament, the government and even our sheikhs. All our neighbors in the GCC countries used to look up on us as the ideal model of freedom. Now they consider us as a bad example," he pointed out.

He also highlighted the importance of punishing those responsible. "I know the detectives were employees and doing their work, but they will still be held responsible in the way they executed their duties. The Minister of Interior is to be held responsible for this action, and he must be held accountable for insulting Jassem and Bashar. Today I want to direct a message to the minister: Take care, you crossed the red line. We must all fight in upholding the respect of the constitution," he warned.

Kuwait's blogosphere was alive with debate and commentary about the arrests. In both Arabic and English, bloggers voiced fears of a crackdown on their freedoms of speech and protested the detentions.

The Kuwait Society for Human Rights (KSHR) issued a statement condemning the assault and detention of the journalists. "We live in a state that is governed by laws and has a clear and straightforward constitution that bans such practices, according to Article 31," said the statement, adding that the article states that, "no subject is to be arrested, detained, inspected nor his liberty to live or move around, should be violated unless in accordance to law".

The statement stressed that KSHR does not call for leniency with those jeopardizing the state's security nor violating its laws; it rather emphasizes adhering to rules, laws and regulations mentioned in Kuwait's constitution. "Law enforcers should stick to the authorities invested in them," the statement said. (Hussain Al-Qatari contributed to this report)

Kuwait State (In)Security Police at it again

Kuwait State Security Arrest, Assault Blogger And Journalist - Kuwait Constitution Violated... with highly intelligent people like these in the secret police, Kuwait is becoming a scarier place.

These links say it all really...
Hilaliya
She's still writing
Shaikha Bibi
K the Kuwaiti
Intlxpatr
248am

And the MoSA&L keeps their head firmly buried in the sand...

Whilst it's left to philanthropists and the Reverend to help those who have been pushed off the cliff, those who pushed them off the cliff don’t even get their names dragged through the press, and in a mishmash of metaphors, the band plays on (in this case the Ministry that could do something and take some responsibility, continues to do nothing). The latest instalment from this ongoing saga in today's Arab Times...

Stranded workers run into problems with ‘new firm’; ‘We are being exploited’

KUWAIT CITY: Some of the stranded Bangladeshi workers who were provided jobs by a local company on Wednesday claimed that the company was exploiting them by making them work around the clock without any benefits. According to the workers, two representatives of the new company assaulted some of the workers after the latter refused to work for more than 12 hours for KD 20 salary. It may be recalled some 90 Bangladeshi workers were given jobs as cleaners at a Co-op by a company and had promised to provide jobs for the rest of the workers in the next few days. On Wednesday, out of the 90 workers, 70 did not report to work and will continue to do so unless the company pays them overtime with a short break after every 7 hours.

Utilized
Expressing happiness over the donation of two drinking water coolers by a philanthropist on Wednesday, the workers thanked the donor and said that the coolers in question are now being utilized by workers from other companies as well. Some 1,300 Bangladeshi cleaners employed with a local company have complained of unpaid wages and deplorable living conditions at their accommodation in Hassawi. Of the 1,300 workers, some 200 female cleaners were evicted by a court order from their apartments on Monday, and have now been provided accommodation in Mahboula. On the other hand, the male workers continue to defy the eviction order and have vowed not to vacate their apartments unless all their dues are settled by the company.

According to the workers, the new company did not allow them to return to their accommodation to freshen up despite numerous requests and in stead made them work for 48 hours at a stretch. The crestfallen workers observed that the company was not giving them overtime for the extra hours worked, adding: “We were told by the new company officials that we would be given overtime but when we started work, the company officials refused and assaulted our fellow workers when they demanded their rights.” Elaborating further, the workers noted that many of the workers are ready to return home provided their company shoulders the repatriation cost in addition to paying fines in relation to their expired residencies.

Punches
Noting that the new company had embarked on a programme of harassment, a cleaner told the Arab Times that a supervisor at the company threw several punches at him for refusing to work for more than 12 hours. Articulating disappointment at the turn of events, the workers noted that they thought their saga had ended after starting work for the new firm and blamed the company for going back on its commitments. “We request the new company to treat us in a humane manner. A majority of the workers are disappointed and just want to return home. We request Reverend Andy Thompson to help us return home. He has done a lot for us and continues to do so and we will never forget his noble deeds.” Some 30 cleaners are awaiting deportation after the company had them arrested allegedly for inciting their colleagues to go on strike. The company has refused to bear the repatriation cost.

By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo
Arab Times Staff

Shares off limits to Expats!

According to today's Kuwait Times....

Shares off limits to expats

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a legislation prohibiting expatriates from buying or selling shares listed at the Kuwait Stock Exchange. They said buying and selling shares listed on KSE could only be done by Kuwaiti citizens at the moment. A number of expatriates however expressed their regret over the decision as their interests and investments worth millions of dinars were frozen in the process. Officials meanwhile said that the decision had been taken a long time ago but was made effective just last Tuesday.

Well who's crazy enough to buy shares on the KSE anyway, unless you're participating in insider trading like everyone else! This country is a joke.

No comment

The long running saga continues...

Kuwaiti legal firm offers to help Bangladeshi cleaners; ‘Integrity being sacrificed for profit’

KUWAIT CITY: The stranded Bangladeshi cleaners have a reason to smile after weeks of gloom, as a local firm has offered them free legal assistance in an effort to help them secure their rights, including unpaid wages for eight months. Hashem Majed, the Chairman of Al-Huqooq International Company, accompanied by a team of lawyers visited the workers’ accommodation on Sunday and gave a patient hearing to the grievances of the cleaners before donating them food supplies. Expressing shock and outrage over the despicable living conditions of the workers, Majed went on to explain that he would make all-out efforts to resolve the problems of the workers in a speedy manner and that he has instructed his lawyers to immediately initiate the legal proceedings. Some 1,300 Bangladeshis employed with a local cleaning company are on an indefinite strike to protest non-payment of wages, inhumane living conditions in addition to their expired residencies. According to the workers, they will not call off the strike unless all their demands are met.

Majed told the Arab Times that integrity is being sacrificed by some at the altar of profit and that the authorities should be held accountable for having let things come to such a pass. Berating the mistreatment of the workers, Majed noted: “I am deeply disturbed to see the horrible living conditions of the workers, and it is equally disturbing to see a few unscrupulous local companies tarnishing the image of the country. These workers are being treated as if they are cattle.” “While we often brag about the rapid progress Kuwait is making in various fields...here are people who have no access to clean drinking water and living in quarters that are not even fit for animal habitation. How can some people be so cold-hearted?” Majed asked. Majed observed that during his meeting with some of the workers on Sunday he asked them to list their priorities. “I was touched when the workers told me that their most pressing need was legal assistance. I asked them to explain to me the logic behind this idea, and they said that the legal assistance was a priority because they wanted to put an end to this long-standing dispute as soon as possible and wanted to return home.” Majed said he has no magic wand to solve the dispute and that he would coordinate efforts with various authorities to address the problems of the workers in the shortest time possible. Al-Huqooq has been at the forefront in safeguarding rights of workers and has provided legal and other assistance to many stranded workers of various nationalities.

Responded
It may be noted that the Arab Times readers have responded positively to the food pleas of the workers published in the newspaper, and have been providing them food aid since then. Reverend Andy Thompson on Saturday accompanied by some volunteers visited the accommodation of the workers and delivered second batch of food aid. When the Arab Times contacted Majed to seek pro bono legal help for the workers, he immediately agreed to the proposal. Majed went on to explain that the Ministry of Social Affairs should establish courts wherein labour disputes involving large group of workers can be resolved in a quick fashion. He added that when a case is filed at the Ministry of Social Affairs by workers it often takes as many as two months to get a hearing date. “During this period, if a worker is arrested at a checkpoint, then he faces deportation. In short, it is very essential that both the ministry of social affairs and the interior ministry coordinate on this issue in order to help people who may be victims,” he added. According to Majed, domestic workers in the country are better off as compared to those employed as cleaners in the private sector. “The domestic workers have a minimum wage of KD 40, in addition to free food and accommodation, not to mention free air passage every two years,” he added.

He said often many cleaning companies stipulate higher salary in the work contract in order to secure contracts from the government and that when the worker arrives in the country he is only paid between KD 20 and KD 25 instead of KD 50 or KD 60 stipulated in the contract. Majed observed that the ministry of social affairs should step up efforts in order to stop such malpractices and take strong action against errant firms to set a precedent. He also went on to explain that the ministry of social affairs and labour should regularly inspect accommodation of workers to ensure that it is habitable. Noting that low-income workers were often being blamed for surge in crimes by the authorities, he said that this segment of workers cannot be blamed because factors such as poor salaries, unpaid wages, among others were turning them into criminals.

“I, for one, blame the government for not addressing the problems faced by cleaning workers. If workers are paid decent salaries and in a timely manner, then the crime graph will obviously witness a decline. How can you expect someone to survive with a monthly income of as low as KD 20?. The government should take concrete measures to tackle this issue at the grass root level.” To a question as to how long it would take for the Labour Court to issue a verdict in this particular case, Hashem said he cannot give a timeframe but would make efforts to secure the rights of the workers as soon as possible and that he has full faith the Kuwaiti legal system. He said that the company must pay the workers all their dues and renew their residencies or repatriate them at its own cost.

By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo
Arab Times Staff

Here, here! Kuwait could do with a few more Hashem Majeds.

Welcome to Hell

1300 unpaid Bangladeshi cleaners continue their stand for justice, as reported in today's Arab Times...

End strike or face ‘serious’ consequences, workers told; ‘Welcome to Hell’

KUWAIT CITY: The striking Bangladeshi cleaning workers have been asked by their company management to call off their strike forthwith failing which they would face serious consequences, workers informed the Arab Times on Tuesday. Some 1,300 workers employed with a leading cleaning company went on strike last
month to protest non-payment, their expired residencies, among other grievances.
The distressed workers observed that two officials of the company paid a visit to their living quarters in Hassawi a few days ago and asked them resume their duties immediately, thereby promising to pay them KD 10 each as temporary compensation. “We demanded to know from the officials whether the company would settle all our dues if we call off the strike, and they said the company would look into the matter and take a decision soon. The workers had earlier vowed that they would not go back to work unless all their demands were met. The workers said that the company officials also warned them that they would be thrown out of their accommodation if they do not end the strike in the next few days. Some 300 female Bangladeshi cleaners employed with a local company on Sunday complained of non-payment and ill-treatment by their company.
The workers, who have not received their salaries for over eight months are drawing a monthly salary of KD 25 each and came to Kuwait some three years ago. Another problem plaguing the workers is that their residencies have not been renewed by the company. “The company is trying to pull out all stops to compel us to go back to work. But we have informed the company about our demands and we reiterate that unless those demands are met in their entirety there is no chance of ending our strike,” the workers added. According to the workers, the embassy has been lackadaisical about their problem and was not doing enough to resolve the protracted and bitter dispute that has been plaguing the workers for the past few months. The embassy was quick to reiterate that it was doing everything in its capacity to resolve the problem of the workers in a swift manner. The First Secretary at the Bangladesh Embassy, Shariar Siddiky, told the Arab Times that the Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour has urged the Labour Court to expedite efforts to settle the case of the workers as soon as possible.

Help
The workers have called upon philanthropists and others to come forward and help them by donating food and other much needed items. “We do not seek monetary assistance but food items just to keep us going.
Some of us were eating only one meal a day and sometimes we go to sleep on empty stomachs.”Moved by the plight of the workers, a charitable organization had sent them rice, sugar, chicken etc but the supplies ran out last week. “Welcome to Hell,” That’s how some workers greeted this reporter when he visited their living quarters on Tuesday. Upon visiting some of the accommodation units, it was found that they were not equipped with air conditioners and most bathrooms were poorly maintained. One room was shared by 10 workers even as most rooms were infested with cockroaches. The staircases were filled with all sorts of filth while parts of the false ceiling of most rooms had fallen off. Some workers who were detained last month by police for allegedly inciting other workers to go on strike continue to languish in jails and the workers have expressed concern over their continued detention.

This ongoing saga is continuing with no end in sight. Surely, naming and shaming the businessman concerned, or at least threatening to name and shame, would have some impact here on seeing justice done. Or is he above the law, like Mr. Fawaz Khalid Al Marzouq, as the teacher, Katherine Phillips has discovered. Even if Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Premier, Minister of Interior and Minister of Defence says nobody is above the law, when he talks of allowing police to arrest a fellow royal... Or maybe the 7,981 residence law violators who corrected their status and the 28,428 people who left the country during the recent two month amnesty period were not enough to rid Kuwait of Bangladeshis.

Kuwait restricts visit visas to wives and kids

Today's Kuwait Times...

Visit visas only for wives, kids

Published Date: May 30, 2007
KUWAIT: In a surprise decision, the Interior Ministry informed directors of Immigration Departments in the six governorates not issue visit visas to families of expatriates except for their wives and children, reported Al-Rai.

Informed sources said the new decision annuls all previous decisions that allowed an expat to invite his parents, siblings, children of siblings and in-laws on a visit visa for a month.

The sources said the verbal instructions also called for strict measures in
granting visit visas to the wives and children of residents of eight nationalities - Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, Pakistan and surprisingly, Egypt. Sources lamented the new decision is not in favor of economic revival.

Aaah, you see, the sources are making an assumption that economic revival is good. How many decisions in Kuwait are taken to bring about economic revival? Even the proposed change to a Friday/Saturday weekend is being opposed by the National Assembly because it's seen as imitating the Jews.

This press announcement is so typically rascist and sexist - what happen's if a female executive wants to bring her husband or children to Kuwait! (I guess that's viewed as haram - why would a women be allowed to travel or live elsewhere from her husband!)

So, sorry ma and pa, if you wanted to visit the tourist mecca of Kuwait! It is now official, Kuwait does not want tourists. And it was doing so well too... after abandoning the torturous process for obtaining tourist visas about 3 years ago and finally allowed some nationalities to be granted visas on arrival.

Is the Minister of Interior, Sheikh Jaber al Mubarak al Hamad al Sabah (also the First Deputy Prime Minister) aware what his underlings are doing to destroy what little credibility Kuwait has in the world?

Modern day slavery

Modern day slavery

Published Date: May 28, 2007 By Fouad Al-Obaid
In an era where slavery is supposed to have long been forgone as an acceptable practice, I am shocked at the fact that today in Kuwait, despite humanitarian practices and international laws, we are still confronted with this issue (forced labor and a modern form of slavery).

What many people here consider as domestic servants; drivers, maids, cooks, as well as other employees of the sort, end up being subjects to harsh living conditions and a meager pay, certainly not enough for the work they put in.

The fact is there are no laws to set a minimum wage nor one to deal with minimum working standards: standards that would precise the working condition, the hours, the pay, the rests, the holidays and the obligations of the employer.

With the latter being quasi non-existent, I sometimes wonder why other people have a hard time understanding the causes that lead many domestics to commit various vices, most of the time they are not out of pleasure, rather they are merely the result of the living conditions and treatment that the domestics are subject to.

Stories of maids taking out their anger on their "masters" weakest link -- their children -- are not unheard of for the single reason that the "masters" treat them as slaves and expect them to say thank you!

What is troubling is that in most of these cases, the domestic are always believed to be mad or happen to be suffering from psychological disorders and only commit such crimes out of madness! Yet I for one beg to question, what is it that pushed such domestics to commit such crimes?

My personal hypothesis on the matter is that if such domestics are at the receiving end of perhaps daily insults, of degradations of all sorts, of deprivations, of punishments, and of long working days with little breaks, then perhaps if the latter happens to be the case I understand that the end result of such treatment can only be a rage of outburst on the part of the domestic that would want to avenge the feeling of injustice that such a person has underwent.

I guess that it is perfectly natural to lose reason if one ends up being put under stress for a prolonged period of time. I certainly know that I would not tolerate such treatment without up one day ending going mad myself!

What many deplorably fail to understand is that we are all human beings. Albeit our skin color, race, and ethnicities differ, we are all fundamentally the same. We all have hopes, dreams and ambitions. Do people seriously think that people actually enjoy cleaning up after someone else's mess? Are people naïve or are they simply racist and believe in race superiority, or perhaps that due to our current wealth, we are above the domestics?

Have we forgotten that not so long ago, we were so dependent of the Asia Sub-continent? Have we forgotten that we used the Indian rupee for currency? Worse, do many of my fellow citizens who claim to be pious and devout Muslims forget that in the Quran, God made it clear that there is no difference between races, no difference between blacks, whites, brown and other?

It really saddens me to know that such action is slowly but surely degrading our image abroad. In the past, such treatment by some foreign diplomats landed them in major trouble yet their immunity from prosecution enabled them to avoid being sent to prison.

With time, such an issue will certainly end up being picked up by mainstream global media and in the long run, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that fellow nationals would be reclaimed by foreign courts in connection with human trafficking, forced work and even slavery charges. After all, Slavery happens to be one of seven crimes common to all civilized nations.

I hope that in the very near future, our dear parliamentarians who claim to be devout Muslims and who want to make the Sharia the prime source of legislation to maybe look into the matter. For it doesn't sound too Islamic. It clearly goes against all human laws and certainly against the law of God.

The "kafeel system" (a system whereby a sponsor needs to be the guarantor of the foreign worker) along with the retention of their passport by the sponsor in question, who in some instances use their documents to bare them from free movement in clear violation of numerous international treaties and charters that Kuwait is a signatory to, are simply wrong.

In a nutshell, the current system ensures that foreigners in our beloved country remain exploited without any rights to do anything about it. They end up being caught in a system where they end up having no legal rights.

The few foreigners that dare go to a police station to complain end up being abused by the police officers. At times, they even in some cases end up being beaten by the same individuals (police officers) who are supposed to uphold the laws of the land and to cater to those that are victims of crimes. In no case are they to be brutal to them and to treat them as sub-humans.

Had I not myself been the witness of such disregard to mainly Asian foreigners by law enforcers I would have not believed it, however it saddens me to admit to such a thing in a country that I believe has laws and a constitution. Furthermore, I encourage all those that might think that I am exaggerating to take the time to go and see for themselves what goes on in police stations.

Ending with a final note, I for one believe in karma; what goes around comes around. Those that abuse people will themselves one day be the victims of their crimes, if not on earth, perhaps in the thereafter. Justice and equalities are two factors necessary for civilizations to develop, people lose hope in either or, we will end up with a chaotic society where people will take it upon themselves to restore perceived injustices.

I hope that law and justice prevails, and those that dare traffic in human beings end up receiving exemplary sentences from international human rights courts. It is a shame that we, in the 21st century, still end up being confronted with demons of the past. Slavery is under no circumstance an acceptable trade. I would like to finish with this remark, what if the person being tampered, enslaved, and abused was you? Would you not want people to speak out and help you? Email me at fouad@kuwaittimes.net

Lots of well-paying jobs available at MoSA&L!

Today's chuckle courtesy of the Kuwait Times...

Excellent performance
Published Date: May 27, 2007
KUWAIT: A bolt of lightning struck a Kuwaiti man after he discovered recently that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor had promoted him due to his excellent performances in executing his duties, reported Al-Qabas. He wondered how he had been promoted when he had already resigned from the ministry three years ago and now worked for a private company. He is now in doubt that his monthly salary might be paid to or collected by somebody else.

Audit Bureau accuses Labor
KUWAIT: The Audit Bureau accused the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor of squandering public funds by paying bonuses to staff for performing additional tasks in duties as well as paying allowances for attending certain sessions or meetings that take place after official duty hours, reported Al-Qabas. They also accused the ministry of permitting employees to work for other authorities and granting them leaves for various reasons such as sick leaves and paying bonuses to employees who didn't deserve them at all.

Nothing new then. And the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour want to now manage the payment of all private sector salaries in Kuwait through the CSC? Yeah, right.