US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4219

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004219 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ELAB, KDEM, SOCI, KWMN, KCRM, KU, TIP 
SUBJECT: GOK ADVISED OF PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION ON 
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 4031 
     B. KUWAIT 4007 
     C. STATE 163401 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  On September 27, PolChief advised Hamad Al-Mashan, 
Second Secretary in the America's Department, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, of the President's September 21 
determination that Kuwait would remain a Tier 3 country with 
regard to Trafficking in Persons (TIP), but that sanctions 
would be waived for U.S. national interests.  Based on local 
press reports of the determination and sanctions waiver, 
Al-Mashan, like many of GOK officials, believed that Kuwait's 
ranking had been elevated to Tier 2.  He appreciated the 
clarification and said he would share the determination 
memorandum with his superiors and with colleagues at the 
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. 
 
2.  (C)  PolChief further advised Al-Mashan of the six-month 
review of Kuwait's ranking and expressed hope that the new 
labor law would soon be approved and minimum wage standards 
implemented.  She encouraged progress on establishing a 
shelter for domestics and recommended the GOK find a way to 
better and more easily identify those who have been 
prosecuted for TIP-type violations.  Al-Mashan said he 
expected the labor law to be adopted shortly after Parliament 
reconvenes on October 17 and reported the GOK was almost 
ready to impose the new wage standards.  He agreed that the 
focus should not be on ratings, but rather on measures the 
GOK could adopt to improve the working conditions of its 
substantial expatriate population.  He restated the GOK's 
commitment to combating TIP in concert with the U.S. 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:  Post is planning specific public and 
private outreach steps to reinforce the message that Kuwait 
remains at Tier 3 and that actions need to be taken to 
improve its performance.  We are also beginning to get the 
attention of our European colleagues on TIP issues and are 
engaging locally with the United Nations Development 
Programme, the International Labor Organization, and the 
International Organization for Migration.  End Comment. 
 
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LEBARON