KUWAIT CITY : The General Immigration Department and Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor have agreed to form a team to track down marginal laborers in the country, reports Annahar daily quoting reliable sources. According to sources, the formation of the team comes in line with Kuwait's drive to completely eradicate marginal laborers after the authorities noticed a remarkable increase in the number of unskilled laborers from an Arab country. Sources added laborers hired from the said country work for very minimal fees and are not qualified for construction jobs, resulting in many problems. Sources disclosed these laborers are often involved in riots and strikes, which sometimes lead to killings. Sources said the team will also arrest laborers recruited illegally by some construction companies.
Sources pointed out Talha Prison is full of laborers, who were arrested for working for another sponsor as they obtained residence permits from visa traders. Sources confirmed the Interior Ministry has imposed a permanent ban on the entry of some Arab nationalities to Kuwait. Sources revealed some muezzins are working in construction sites -- an incident which alarmed the security authorities and prompted the Ministry to intensify its campaign against visa traders. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor protects the rights of expatriate laborers in the country regardless of their nationalities, Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs at the Ministry Dr Saleh Al-Sheikh told Al-Watan Arabic daily.
In a recently concluded meeting with a delegation from the American Labor Union, Al-Sheikh said "all are equal before the law and the Ministry is keen on safeguarding the rights of both the employers and employees." He added Kuwait is known for its policy of granting the rights of expatriate laborers without discrimination. He affirmed the Labor Department at the Ministry is ready to hear the complaints of expatriates and solve their problems objectively.
© Arab Times 2008
