21 November 2011
KUWAIT: Government officials, ambassadors and the press gathered yesterday to inaugurate the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) 'Training of Trainers' workshop at UN House. The program is designed to provide training to law enforcement officials and civil society on protecting temporary contract workers. Iman Ereiqat, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kuwait said in her welcoming speech, "This five-day course will qualify those participating for two years." She added, "the idea for this stems from our beliefs regarding the importance of investing in human resources, especially since the Gulf is such a popular destination for work.
The workshop is held in coordination with the Embassy of the Netherlands, and Dana Ahmed, Policy Officer at the Embassy, told Kuwait Times that it's strengthening ties between nations, "These issues are important to us, and they strengthen our ties with Kuwait. Europe is closely tied into human rights issues, and Kuwait's government has been working hard to improve labor rights." She added, "High-ranking Kuwaiti officials even came to the Netherlands to see how we handle issues such as trafficking.
These workshops make a great change, and help further the changes that are already taking place.
Mohammad Ali Al-Kandari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor commented on the addition the workshops would make to the efforts made so far, "These workshops are a continuation of previous training courses that have taken place and will add to our efforts. These steps come as a result of the role that Kuwait plays along with the help of their international colleagues.
Ton Boon von Ochss�e, Ambassador of the Netherlands addressed the gathering, "There are about 22 million overseas contract workers who live, work and try to earn a living in the Gulf. They save up and send every penny to their families in the hope of sustaining their livelihood and to overcome the poverty and challenges of daily life." This figure, he added, is on the rise by around six percent per year according to the Human Development report.
It is therefore important that Gulf countries manage programs and regulations to ensure these workers' safety, decent working conditions and accommodation." He said, adding, "Different authorities are to be identified in different ministries. Civil society can actively contribute to the protection of overseas workers. This is by no means a simple task. Active coordination, hands-on knowledge and experience are necessary to ensure the fulfillment of basic needs." Adam Abdelmoula, the UN's Resident Coordina
tor, said of the Netherlands' contribution, "These activities could not have come into being without such cooperation. We are thankful for their participation.
Ambassador Ochss�e also told the Kuwait Times that holding regular workshops help with both the learning process and monitoring of programs. He added, "The first step in making a change is awareness, and the second is regulation. There must be increased transparency, especially by agencies many use to secure work in the Gulf. Many of the temporary contract workers are very vulnerable, which is why it's so important to improve and progress in these efforts.
Dana Ahmed reiterated the Ambassador's comments and added, "The important thing is that small, constant steps be taken. Much has changed since these training workshops began." She continued, "You cannot just point out where the areas in need of improvement are, you must actually step forward and suggest ways to improve. The Kuwaiti government was already confronting the issue, and now even more progress is being made.
KUWAIT: Government officials, ambassadors and the press gathered yesterday to inaugurate the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) 'Training of Trainers' workshop at UN House. The program is designed to provide training to law enforcement officials and civil society on protecting temporary contract workers. Iman Ereiqat, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kuwait said in her welcoming speech, "This five-day course will qualify those participating for two years." She added, "the idea for this stems from our beliefs regarding the importance of investing in human resources, especially since the Gulf is such a popular destination for work.
The workshop is held in coordination with the Embassy of the Netherlands, and Dana Ahmed, Policy Officer at the Embassy, told Kuwait Times that it's strengthening ties between nations, "These issues are important to us, and they strengthen our ties with Kuwait. Europe is closely tied into human rights issues, and Kuwait's government has been working hard to improve labor rights." She added, "High-ranking Kuwaiti officials even came to the Netherlands to see how we handle issues such as trafficking.
These workshops make a great change, and help further the changes that are already taking place.
Mohammad Ali Al-Kandari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor commented on the addition the workshops would make to the efforts made so far, "These workshops are a continuation of previous training courses that have taken place and will add to our efforts. These steps come as a result of the role that Kuwait plays along with the help of their international colleagues.
Ton Boon von Ochss�e, Ambassador of the Netherlands addressed the gathering, "There are about 22 million overseas contract workers who live, work and try to earn a living in the Gulf. They save up and send every penny to their families in the hope of sustaining their livelihood and to overcome the poverty and challenges of daily life." This figure, he added, is on the rise by around six percent per year according to the Human Development report.
It is therefore important that Gulf countries manage programs and regulations to ensure these workers' safety, decent working conditions and accommodation." He said, adding, "Different authorities are to be identified in different ministries. Civil society can actively contribute to the protection of overseas workers. This is by no means a simple task. Active coordination, hands-on knowledge and experience are necessary to ensure the fulfillment of basic needs." Adam Abdelmoula, the UN's Resident Coordina
tor, said of the Netherlands' contribution, "These activities could not have come into being without such cooperation. We are thankful for their participation.
Ambassador Ochss�e also told the Kuwait Times that holding regular workshops help with both the learning process and monitoring of programs. He added, "The first step in making a change is awareness, and the second is regulation. There must be increased transparency, especially by agencies many use to secure work in the Gulf. Many of the temporary contract workers are very vulnerable, which is why it's so important to improve and progress in these efforts.
Dana Ahmed reiterated the Ambassador's comments and added, "The important thing is that small, constant steps be taken. Much has changed since these training workshops began." She continued, "You cannot just point out where the areas in need of improvement are, you must actually step forward and suggest ways to improve. The Kuwaiti government was already confronting the issue, and now even more progress is being made.
© Kuwait Times 2011
