27 November 2011

Force newcomers to undergo complete medical checkup before arrival: MoH

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27: Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Undersecretary Mohammad Al-Kandari has called on other Gulf countries to implement the automation system in their ministries of Labor to curb the rising number of marginal workers and combat human trafficking.

Al-Kandari made the statement in a ceremony held at the United Nations building in Mishref Thursday to mark the conclusion of a training course for national workers specialized in expatriate labor affairs under the auspices of Deputy Premier and Minister of Justice, Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi. The course was organized with the cooperation of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Dutch Embassy in Kuwait.

The undersecretary explained some problems or difficulties can be overcome by conducting such training courses to support those concerned with labor rights and offer alternatives to the so-called 'sponsorship system' to end human trafficking. He affirmed the course is aimed at protecting the interests of the workers.

Al-Kandari said the expatriate workers constitute 90 percent of the population in some Gulf countries and this poses a grave threat to the demographic structure of these nations. He believes that modifying the population structure should start with reducing the number of marginal workers, in addition to the automation of work procedures in institutions dealing with the affairs of laborers.

Also:
KUWAIT CITY: Ministry of Health has asked the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to force the expatriate personnel coming into the country to undergo complete medical checkup in their countries of origin before arrival, reports Al-Anba daily.

In a letter to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor which the Arabic daily obtained a copy, Ministry of Health urged that expatriates coming to the country on visit visas must not be referred to the labor medical examination centers for checkup.

It also explained that those on visit visas must have gone through medical checkup in their countries of origin before the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor decides to transfer their visit visas to work permits, indicating such applicants are not allowed to conduct the checkup in centers affiliated to the ministry inside Kuwait or any other Gulf country, and there shouldn't be exceptions in that regard.

© Arab Times 2011