Pray for Kuwait Community

Praise the Lord… First step to cancel the Sponsorship “Slavery “Law.

Kuwait approved a move to modify the sponsorship laws by allowing transfer of residency without the approval of the “ sponsor”. The one condition is the person sponsored should spend 3 years with the same sponsor.

This step considered to be a hug shift at the law and it is already not pleasing many sponsors. Many sponsors are already starting a war-of-words against the ministers of parliament.

God hear the prayers of his people, we will keep praying till we see the law changed and the sponsorship law cancelled.

Give God all the Glory.

Below you can find the article in Arabic. as in Al Watan newspaper on 9^th. August 2009 (Arabic)  but also in English from the Arab Times

وزارة الشؤون تنفذ قرار السماح بتحويلها من غير موافقة الكفلاء.. العفاسي لـ الوطن: مراجعة هيكلة قطاع العمل قبل تعيين وكيل مساعد له.. وسيكون من داخل الوزارة

“ إقـامـــات الوافـــديــن اليـــوم: وداعــاً للكفيـــــل  “

كتب عبدالله النجار ومحمد الهاجري والمحرر الأمني ومحمد خالد: تحويل إقامات الوافدين العاملين في القطاع الخاص يودع موافقة الكفيل اليوم.. إذ تبدأ وزارة الشؤون الاجتماعية والعمل تنفيذ قرارها في هذا الشأن وهو ما وصفه الوزير محمد العفاسي بأنه «مقدمة لإلغاء نظام الكفيل».

وذكر العفاسي انه «يشترط للتحويل مرور ثلاثة أعوام على آخر كفيل».

وفي تصريح لـ «الوطن» لم يستعجل وزير الشؤون الاجتماعية والعمل الدكتور محمد العفاسي تسمية وكيل مساعد للعمل في وزارته وهو المنصب الشاغر حاليا «فنحن حاليا ندرس هيكلة القطاع واداراته وتنظيم عمله.. وبعد ذلك نختار الوكيل، وسيكون من داخل الوزارة وليس من خارجها».

وذكر في تصريح لـ «الوطن» ان «ملف لجنة التحقيق في تجاوزات منسوبة الى مجلس المعاقين الاعلى، مليء بالاوراق والمستندات، ويحتاج الى ثلاثة اشهر على الاقل من قراءته وتفحصه.. واذا ما وجدنا شيئا يستحق الاحالة الى النيابة العامة، فلن نتردد في ذلك».

وعن قانون العمل الجديد، افاد العفاسي بأن «المشروع هو حكومي.. ومهتمون باقراره، وننتظر مناقشته مع النواب في مجلس الامة، ولا مانع لدينا من ادخال تعديلات عليه اذا كانت تخدمه، وترتقي بالهدف الذي نسعى اليه جميعا».

ومساء امس، شارك الوزير العفاسي في حفل اختتام رحلة الغوص، وذكر للصحافيين ان وزارته «تتعاون مع الجهات المعنية لضمان عدم ارتفاع السلع الاستهلاكية خلال شهر رمضان».

واشار الى ان «قرار اللجنة الاولمبية الدولية في شأن القوانين الرياضية المحلية سيصدر الاسبوع الجاري، وتوضح موقفها مما اذا كانت تحتاج الى تعديل أم لا؟».

من جهة اخرى، عقود جديدة تعد حاليا ضمن دراسة شاملة تتعلق بالكفيل والمكفول لمعالجة اوضاع العمالة المنزلية.. واهم ما فيها «منع تحويل الخادم أو الخادمة الى كفيل جديد الا بعد مرور عامين على الاقل من وضع الاقامة»، والهدف من ذلك «الحد من عمليات الاتجار بالاقامات، وتمرد الخدم وهروبهم الى العمل عند آخرين بناء على تحريض من مكاتب العمالة.. أو سفارات تتبعها هذه العمالة».

واشارت مصادر لـ «الوطن» الى ان «ادارة الهجرة في وزارة الداخلية واجهزة معنية تقوم على الانتهاء من هذه الدراسة لتنفيذها قريبا».

وبينت المصادر انه «في حال رغب الخادم في السفر أو رفض العمل، يدفع قيمة النقود سواء هو أو المكتب الذي احضره.. وكذلك يتحمل تذكرة سفر ايضا كاجراء للمحافظة على اموال الكفلاء، خصوصا بعدما قفز سعر الخادمة من 500 الى 700 دينار».

وتابعت: «لو ضبط أو عرف مكان الخادم الهارب من عمله لدى الغير، ولو كان ليوم واحد، يبعد فورا وبدون عمل امر صلح له أو السماح بدخوله البلاد مرة اخرى، تحت أي عذر أو ذريعة».

ولاحظت المصادر ان «التحريض الحالي على هروب الخدم منبعه عصابات متخصصة ومافيا تتبع السفارات أو المتعاملين معها.. والربح مناصفة، لأن كل كفيل يدفع ومن ثم تهرب الخادمة أو الخادم وهكذا».

واوضحت المصادر ان «في حال رفض الكفيل طلبات الخادمة أو العصابات يُهدد بتلفيق قضية هتك عرض والتشهير به للحصول على امواله وتنازله ايضا».

تاريخ النشر 09/08/2009

http://www.alwatan.com.kw/Default.aspx?tabid=57&article_id=527784

PRAISE … DOUBTS ON RESIDENCE TRANSFERS; 3 years voids sponsor grip

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 9:  A large number of expatriate workers and ‘mandoubs’ (representatives of companies) visited labor offices in the six governorates early morning Sunday — the first day of implementing the decision of Social Affairs and Labor Minister Mohammad Al-Afasi to allow expatriate workers to transfer their residence permits to another sponsor without approval of the current sponsors. Such transfers will, however, be allowed once the expatriates have completed three years with their current sponsors. With a cheerful demeanor, most of the expatriate workers, who visited the labor offices, could not believe that the decision has finally been implemented, so they sought clarifications from the concerned officials and employees at the labor offices.  For these workers, the decision marks their victory in the seemingly unending fight for their rights, hoping it would solve some of their financial, social and psychological problems, especially the victims of visa trading and abusive acts of some ‘mandoubs’.

Speaking to the Arab Times, some ‘mandoubs’, who were at the Labor Office in the Capital Governorate, expressed their reservations on the decision which, they opined, is a temporary solution and will only lead to many other problems in the future.  Others regard the decision as an insult to the rights of employers, who hired workers from abroad and trained these workers only for the benefit of another employer.

On the other hand, some citizens expressed their full support to the decision, asserting it will improve the image of Kuwait and dispel accusations on the country’s alleged involvement in labor malpractices and human trafficking.

Meanwhile, expatriate workers, who visited the Labor Office in Farwaniya, stated the decision is courageous and historical.  They look forward to the cancellation of the ‘kafil’ (sponsorship) system, which is important in organizing the labor market, enhancing the skills of workers, and releasing them from the claws of abusive ‘mandoufs’.  They think the decision will protect them as the employers could no longer threat to fire them every time they air their grievances or demand privileges, such as salary increment.

Moreover, Ministry of Undersecretary Mohammad Al-Kandari expects full support from major companies as the decision is aimed at protecting the rights of both the employers and workers.  He said the decision will also provide job security to expatriate workers and protect them from visa traders.  He pointed out the main beneficiaries of the decision are the victims of visa traders.

In the meantime, Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs Mansour Al-Mansour explained expatriate laborers will only be permitted to transfer to other sponsors after they have completed three years with the current sponsors , reports Al-Dar daily. Confirming the decision protects the rights of both sponsors and the laborers under their sponsorship, Al-Mansour added laborers will be allowed to transfer to other sponsors after one year, but they have to obtain approval from their current sponsors. The Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF) has praised the move of the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohamed Al-Afasi to permit expatriates working at the private sector to transfer their residence to other employers without approval of the existing employers, reports Al-Rai daily.

A number of MPs support the decision but warn of the possible adverse impact on employers. The MPs also expressed desire to work on eliminating human trafficking in the country, and cancellation of the sponsorship system. n other developments, Chairperson of the Human Rights Defense Committee at the Parliament Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei has called for regulations to control the transfers, to respect the rights of both employers and employees. e also urged the ministry to cancel the sponsorship system as a first step to eliminating trafficking in persons, which has mortified the image of Kuwait. He added the new move is very promising, but there should also be regulations which will control both sponsors and employees to protect the rights of both sides.

However, he stressed this quick decision adopted by the ministry can harm the interests of employers since employees will be limited to work for their employees for a limited period after which they will gain the right to transfer to other sponsors. Meanwhile, he supported government’s decision to cancel the sponsorship system, saying it is the right step to end human trafficking in the country.  He predicted the sponsor ship system will be canceled, but only after careful studies and regulations which can control the market. In her view, MP Dr Rola Dashti underlined the decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to allow the expatriate laborers to change sponsors without their  existing sponsors’ permission will have a negative impact on the economy of the country, and government should lay down root level solutions toward the issue.

By Sayed Al-Qasas and Abdullah Dubia

Special thanks to the Arab Times

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/pagesdetails.asp?nid=35715&ccid=9

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