US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT3769

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, KCRM, SOCI, ECON, KU 
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER RESTATES KUWAIT'S COMMITMENT TO 
PROTECT EXPATRIATE WORKERS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3588 
 
     B. KUWAIT 3532 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  During an August 20 meeting with First Deputy Prime 
Minister and Minister of the Interior Shaykh Nawaf Al-Sabah, 
the Ambassador emphasized the need for the Government of 
Kuwait to maintain momentum on recent efforts to improve the 
working conditions of expatriate laborers and combat 
trafficking in persons (ref B).  He stressed the need for 
measures to protect domestic workers, who fall under the 
authority of the MOI and not the Ministry of Social Affairs 
and Labor (MOSAL).  As an example, he encouraged the GOK to 
extend legal protection to domestic employees and restated 
the need to work closely with international bodies such as 
International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International 
Organization for Migration (IOM), noting their expertise in 
establishing shelters and legal consultation and labor 
reconciliation centers.  Shaykh Nawaf informed the Ambassador 
that the MOI was an active partner in the interministerial 
committee headed by MOSAL, and that the GOK was working hard 
to end human trafficking.  He said the GOK sought to be a 
safe place for expatriate workers and steps were underway to 
stop individual acts of abuse and inform the public of 
international labor standards.  He added that the GOK was 
reviewing existing labor laws and would coordinate with the 
UN on setting appropriate labor standards. 
 
2.  (C)  In a separate meeting, Abdullatif Al-Rodan, 
Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, told the 
 
SIPDIS 
Ambassador the GOK was very serious about combating 
trafficking in persons and the Prime Minister was personally 
involved in anti-TIP measures.  He noted that the Council had 
discussed TIP during its August 13-14 meetings and was 
expected to make TIP-related announcements within weeks. 
(Note: Ambassador raised the issue with the Prime Minister on 
August 23.  Report by septel.  End note.) 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  Shaykh Nawaf and Al-Rodan were well versed 
in the GOK's efforts to improve labor conditions for 
expatriate workers, indicating engagement at the highest 
levels of government.  The GOK is determined to improve 
working conditions for foreign workers and has made steady 
progress on all elements of the action plan as well as 
self-identified areas for improvement.  Re-designation of 
Kuwait's TIP ranking to Tier 2 Watch List would recognize the 
accomplishments made to date (ref B) and propel action toward 
additional improvements.  End Comment. 
 
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LEBARON