30 August 2016
Project to educate migrant labor on rights

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait Society for Human Rights (KSHR) in cooperation with the Department of Domestic Labor in the Ministry of Interior launched booklets on Domestic Labor Law by using images in five languages (Arabic, English, Filipino, Hindi, Urdu). Khalid Al Hamidi Al Ajmi -- Chairman of the Board, said that the publications come with "Together" project to educate migrant labor on their rights in Kuwait which is implemented by the society in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy in Kuwait.

He also said that these booklets are the first group of the booklets. They also include Law of Labor in the civil sector in five languages, and they will be distributed at airports, health centers and work places. He stressed that the translation of the Domestic Labor Law into five languages, as well as the use of images in the Law Articles will contribute significantly to the knowledge of the domestic workers of their rights and will raise their awareness in a way that will be reflected positively in the protection of their rights in the society.

Al Ajmi praised the great cooperation provided by the Public Directorate of Residency Affairs under the leadership of Brigadier General Abdullah Al Hajri - the Acting General Director and Mohammed Al Ajmi -- Director of Domestic Labor Department and their great keenness to involve civil society organizations in raising awareness of labor and contribute to the promotion of human rights in Kuwait.

He added that the Domestic Labor Law is considered a pioneering step in protecting the rights of the domestic workers, and presents one of the mechanisms for combating human trafficking. And it contributed to the creation of new and essential legislative base in the field of domestic labor rights protection.

He expressed the fulfillment of the government of its international obligations, and that requires us in civil society organizations to support these efforts, which will contribute to ensuring workers' rights and their access to a decent life. "Together" project to educate migrant labor on their rights in Kuwait is one of Kuwait Society for Human Rights projects that is being implemented in collaboration with Dutch Embassy in Kuwait.

The main objective is to contribute to the education of migrant workers in Kuwait on the rights guaranteed to them by local laws and international conventions and treaties and to benefit from the applications in smart phones to serve the workers' rights. The project includes the first electronic platform in the Arab Gulf region and is currently under preparation in six languages (Arabic, English, Filipino, Urdu, Hindi, and French). In addition, it provides legal advice for the labor in Kuwait in the appropriate languages for them. It also aims to provide a positive model for the effective contribution of civil society in support of workers' rights.

© Arab Times 2016