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by James

Sad News: Clearance Certificate threatens to abort the Sponsorship Breakthrough…

11:36 in Breaking news by James

” -Afasi stressed the need for expatriate employees to obtain a clearance certificate from their current sponsors before joining another company. ‘Sponsors should refrain from using this condition to put pressure on their employees as they will be forced to issue the clearance certificates in case the workers file a complaint at the ministry. Expatriate workers, on the other hand, should not leave their current sponsors without informing them about their plan to transfer their residence to another sponsor,’ he explained. ”

This means the sponsor is still controlling the employees and they can’t get their freedom unless the sponsor releases them.

The misuse of this certificate will likely be used by the sponsors to control the release of those they control (slavery?).

We are still praying for a total cancellation of the Sponsorship law as the Clearance Certificate will return the law to square one again.

Please pray for boldness for Mr. Al Afasi to keep on changing the laws till we see the law of sponsorship cancelled.

Let God be in Control.

Expat filing could force clearance from sponsor; Get your passport, says Minister Al-Afasi
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 12: Expatriate employees should get their passports from their sponsors as the latter have no right to keep such documents, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi said Wednesday after his meeting with the Health, Social Affairs and Labor Committee in the Parliament.  Clarifying that expatriate workers have to fulfill certain requirements before leaving their current sponsors, Al-Afasi stressed the need for expatriate employees to obtain a clearance certificate from their current sponsors before joining another company. “Sponsors should refrain from using this condition to put pressure on their employees as they will be forced to issue the clearance certificates in case the workers file a complaint at the ministry. Expatriate workers, on the other hand, should not leave their current sponsors without informing them about their plan to transfer their residence to another sponsor,” he explained.
Revealing the committee continued Wednesday discussions on the proposed amendments to the new private sector labor law, Al-Afasi pointed out the government and Parliament unanimously approved the law during the first reading, but its enactment was delayed due to the dissolution of the Parliament. “Institutions like Kuwait Workers Union, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), and Banks Union have a number of reservations on the law. All parties involved and meet international expectations as the whole nation has been waiting for its ratification for quite a long time,” he opined.
Indicating the Aug 19 session might not be enough to discuss the 147-article law as well as the proposed amendments, Al-Afasi argued “the government has nothing against the law, considering it is one of the proponents. Our main concern is that MPs might be compelled to rush its ratification. If the committee can finalize the law, analyze the proposed amendments and submit a detailed report prior to the session, then we have nothing to worry about.” He also affirmed the committee’s dedication to complete its deliberations, which will be attended by representatives from the government and other concerned bodies, before the session.

On the other hand, Committee Chairman Saad Al-Khanfour disclosed the committee listened to Al-Afasi’s point of view on the need to give his ministry more time to study the comments and amendments presented by MPs and other concerned authorities before enacting the law. He said the committee has agreed to hold a series of meetings next week – from Sunday until Tuesday – to deliberate on the proposed amendments and finalize its report, which will be presented to the Parliament during the emergency session Wednesday.
Meanwhile, committee member MP Dr Waleed Al-Tabtabaei looks forward to the completion of the report before the emergency session. He clarified the government and Parliament had earlier reached an agreement on the law, but other relevant authorities, such as the KCCI and Kuwait Workers Union, have presented viable amendments that require further discussions to come up with a satisfactory and comprehensive law.
Al-Tabtabaei revealed the proposed amendments are related to salaries of workers and employment of women.  He also quoted Al-Afasi as saying that Deputy Parliament Speaker Abdullah Al-Roumi’s proposal to establish a recruitment authority for private sector and domestic workers is a step towards the cancellation of the sponsorship system.

Another committee member, MP Dr Salwa Al-Jassar, has appealed to the government and Parliament not to politicize the laid-off Kuwaitis issue.  She underscored the need to solve the problem immediately through the issuance of a temporary decision to guarantee a comfortable life for Kuwaitis who were laid off from work or forced to resign.
Wondering why the issue is being discussed now while the global economic crisis started 10 months ago, Al-Jassar asked why the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee in the previous Parliament tackled the economic stimulus bill without taking into consideration the plight of laid-off Kuwaitis.  She said this bill is aimed at helping investment and financial companies overcome losses incurred due to the crisis, even if some of these companies had dismissed Kuwaiti employees as part of their cost-cutting measures.

Al-Jassar asked the government to help laid-off Kuwaitis overcome their financial burdens through the following measures:
* The Government Manpower Restructuring Program (GMRP) should study the situation of the laid-off employees and those who were forced to resign through the establishment of a competent committee, which will be tasked to look into their problems.
* Provide them with jobs immediately through the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and GMRP, in accordance with their qualifications and experiences.
* Impose penalties on private companies that retrenched Kuwaiti employees without any valid reason.
* Use the financial and economic expertise of those who retired from the private sector through consultations with the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK).
* Work towards enacting the new private sector labor law by revising the articles that provide financial guarantees and prevent the recurrence of the problems of Kuwaitis laid off from work or forced to resign.
* GMRP should present a weekly report to the Health , Social Affairs and Labor committee on the latest developments on issues concerning the laid-off workers and those who were forced to resign
* Identify names of the companies that terminated the services of Kuwaiti employees to specify the number of non-Kuwaiti employees who were laid off from work or are still working.
* Check whether the companies that retrenched Kuwaitis have incurred losses due to the global economic crisis or they are still making profits.
* Determine the number of non-Kuwaitis working in the private sector, as well as their qualifications and experiences to activate a decision on the replacement of expatriate workers with Kuwaitis.
* Ministries of Social Affairs, Labor, Commerce and Industry should study the current situation of private companies that dismissed Kuwaiti employees to determine their financial, administrative and technical status.
* GMRP should publish announcements in local news encouraging Kuwaitis who were dismissed from work or forced to resign to submit the required documents to give them jobs suitable to their professional and technical expertise.

By Dahlia Kholaif and Abubakar A. Ibrahim
Arab Times Staff – 13th. August 2009

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/pagesdetails.asp?nid=35858&ccid=9

«المسرَّحون» أول أزمة تواجه رئيس الوزراء بعد عودته

الحكومة تتراجع عن تحويل الإقامة وتشترط «براءة ذمة» من الكفيل!

كتب زكريا محمد
ومشعل العتيبي:
أجواء «التردد» الحكومي تجاه ملف «المسرَّحين» ظلت هي السائدة على الساحة البرلمانية أمس، رغم محاولات وزير الشؤون د. محمد العفاسي تحميل مشروع قانون العمل الأهلي مسؤولية هذا «التردد»، فيما كشفت مصادر برلمانية ان عدم رغبة الحكومة في الإعلان رسمياً عن حضورها أو عدم حضورها لدور الانعقاد الطارئ، الذي سيعقد يوم الأربعاء المقبل لمناقشة ملف المسرَّحين وقانون العمل، يعود الى رغبتها في التأكد من وجود العدد الكافي من النواب لحضور الجلسة، وكذلك العدد الحقيقي للمسرَّحين من خلال التسجيل اليومي في برنامج إعادة هيكلة القوى العاملة.
وعقب اجتماع اللجنة الصحية البرلمانية المخصص لمناقشة قانون العمل الأهلي، قال الوزير العفاسي إن الحكومة ما زالت على تحفظها على إقرار القانون في جلسة واحدة، مشيراً إلى انه يتضمن 148 مادة ومن الصعب إنجازها في الجلسة نفسها، «كما ان هناك ملاحظات من الجهات المعنية بالعمالة الوطنية لا بد من مراجعتها».
وفي تطور لافت، تراجعت وزارة الشؤون عن قرارها السماح بتحويل العامل إقامته بعد مرور ثلاث سنوات، إذ أشار العفاسي إلى ان هناك شرطاً جديداً للتحويل بعد هذه المدة يتطلب الحصول على شهادة براءة ذمة من الكفيل، مما يعني عمليا ابقاء «التنازل»!
وقالت المصادر البرلمانية إن الحكومة حاولت من خلال التنسيق مع بعض النواب طرح عدد من القضايا مثل اسقاط القروض وزيادة الخمسين دينارا وانفلونزا الخنازير، للتهرب من دور الانعقاد الطارئ، لكنها لم تفهم ان قرار طرح مواضيع أخرى غير موجودة في جدول الأعمال يتطلب حصول مثل تلك الطلبات على العدد الكافي لطرحها، مما أدى إلى انكشافها أمام النواب.
وترددت معلومات أمس ان هناك إجراء تدرسه كتلة العمل الشعبي في حال غابت الحكومة عن جلسة «المسرَّحين»، بعدما بدا واضحا ان هناك محاولات من جانبها لطيّ هذا الملف من دون معالجة حقيقية.
وتوقع النائب د. علي العمير ان تطول المساءلة السياسية وزير الشؤون د. العفاسي وسمو رئيس الوزراء في حال غابت الحكومة عن الدورة الطارئة لمجلس الأمة، على خلفية قضية المسرَّحين، مشيراً إلى ان هناك اقتناعا نيابيا ان الحكومة غير متحمسة لمناقشة قانون العمل في دور الانعقاد الطارئ خشية فتح باب ما يستجد من أعمال لمناقشة قضايا أخرى.
وقال عضو اللجنة النائب د. وليد الطبطبائي إن هناك توافقاً حكومياً نيابياً على قانون العمل الأهلي، لكن اتحاد العمال وغرفة التجارة قدّما تعديلات سندرسها خلال الاسبوع المقبل، فيما اتهم النائب مسلم البراك وزير الخارجية د. محمد الصباح بأنه يجامل رئيس الوزراء على حساب الدستور عندما قال إن قرار الحضور مرتبط بقرار سمو رئيس مجلس الوزراء.
وفي ملف آخر، قال د. العفاسي إن اللجنة الفنية المشكلة للاطلاع على أوجه التعارض بين القوانين المحلية والميثاق الاولمبي ستغادر الاسبوع المقبل لتلتقي اللجنة الاولمبية الدولية، مشيرا إلى ان الحكومة ترغب في انهاء هذا الملف حتى لا تتكرر المشكلة مستقبلاً.

http://92.52.88.82/alqabas/Article.aspx?id=525016%20&date=13082009

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by James

Breakthrough in sponsorship law

10:17 in Breaking news by James

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 9th. 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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by miracle1

Kuwait’s Cabinet resigns amid growing tensions between government ministers and parliament

11:04 in Prayer by miracle1


KUWAIT CITY (AP) — The ministers on Kuwait’s Cabinet submitted their resignations on Monday over growing differences with lawmakers in the tiny nation’s parliament, the state-owned Kuwait Television said.

All members of the Cabinet placed their resignations at the disposal of the prime minister, Sheik Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah, citing the differences between the executive and legislative powers.

The report did not say whether the resignations were accepted.

Lately, Kuwaiti parliament and government have been at odds. Among other issues, the assembly has been insisting on a pay hike for civil servants even though a generous salary increase has been given by the Cabinet already.

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