US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4742

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004742 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ELAB, PREL, PGOV, SOCI, KDEM, KCRM, KU 
SUBJECT: INTERIOR AND PLANNING MINISTERS CONFIRM GOK 
COMMITMENT TO COMBAT TIP; AWARENESS CAMPAIGN KEY TO PROGRESS 
 
REF: STATE 206043 (NOTAL) 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary:  During separate meetings on November 12, 
the Ambassador pressed Interior Minister Shaykh Nawaf 
Al-Sabah and Planning Minister Dr. Masouma Al-Mubarak to step 
up GOK efforts to combat human trafficking and improve the 
working conditions of Kuwait's large expatriate work force. 
He noted progress to date, but said that Kuwait should be a 
regional leader in protecting workers' rights and urged the 
prompt establishment of shelters for domestic workers as a 
step forward.  Both ministers said that combating TIP was a 
GOK priority and that the Government was committed to 
bettering working conditions.  Both also said that a public 
information campaign on TIP was key to progress and said they 
looked forward to working with the U.S. on increasing public 
awareness to human trafficking.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU)  During a November 12 meeting with First Deputy 
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior (MOI), Shaykh Nawaf 
Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Ambassador restated the 
necessity of the prompt adoption of measures to combat 
Trafficking in Persons (TIP).  He noted the hard work and 
dedication of the intergovernmental committee led by the 
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL), but said Kuwait 
should set the regional standards for the treatment and 
protection of expatriate workers.  He cited the establishment 
of shelters for domestic workers as a progressive step that 
could serve a large portion of Kuwait's work force as a 
resource and mediation center, and refuge when necessary.  He 
restated the U.S. interest in working with Kuwait on TIP 
issues and noted the recently approved Project FALCon as an 
area for cooperation (reftel).  (NOTE: Ambassador held a 
widely-covered press roundtable on TIP issues on November 9.) 
 
3.  (U)  Shaykh Nawaf responded that MOI was working closely 
with MOSAL to develop better procedures to regulate the 
hiring of foreign workers and their working conditions. 
Combating TIP was a GOK priority and the Government also 
strove to strengthen and better publicize existing resources 
such as the Domestic Labor Department to assist laborers. 
 
4.  (SBU)  The Ambassador raised the same concerns in a 
separate November 12 meeting with Dr. Masouma Saleh 
Al-Mubarak, Minister of Planning and State Minister for 
Administrative Development Affairs.  Dr. Masouma said TIP 
issues were regularly discussed in meetings of the Council of 
Ministers and reported that MOSAL Minister Faisal Mohammed 
Al-Hajji was sincere in his efforts to improve working 
conditions.  She commented that it was easy to identify 
solutions, but their implementation could be difficult and 
complicated.  Nonetheless, that was not an excuse for 
inaction.  She argued that educating workers and their 
employers was imperative and commented that many employment 
contracts were written in English and Arabic, but not the 
language of the employee.  As a result, domestics and 
low-level laborers were ignorant of their rights.  She also 
said that source countries for Kuwait's expatriate laborers 
needed to be targeted, alleging that travel documents were 
often falsified so that minors could be employed.  She 
welcomed Project FALCon and pledged the cooperation of her 
ministry as needed. 
 
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LEBARON