Workers' strike in Kuwait brings rights to the fore

Sunday, Aug 03, 2008

Last week, hundreds of Asian workers, primarily working as cleaners, took to Kuwaiti streets demanding an end to some inhumane practices. The charges include forcing workers to work in excess of 48 hours a week.

Another demand dealt with improving working contracts to include entitlements of a holiday every two years together with an airplane ticket. This was not the first time that foreign workers go on strike demanding better pay. In 2005, hundreds of Fijian workers went on strike over pay dispute.

The issue of fair compensation is at the heart of labour unrest in Kuwait. This is particularly true with regard to those working for firms providing cleaning services to governmental departments and large corporations, notably banks. The going salary is about $75 monthly. Inflationary pressures are only reducing the purchasing power of an already low pay. Statistics indicate that Kuwait's inflation rate remained above 11 per cent in May.

Kuwaiti authorities assume new initiatives every now and then to help coping with the adverse effects of inflation but designed solely for nationals. Only recently, an agreement between the government and the parliament stipulated adding $185 to individuals earning less than $3,704 monthly. The deal covered Kuwaiti nationals working in public and private establishments. Some 93 per cent of Kuwaiti labour force is employed in governmental departments. In fact, expatriates comprise two-thirds of Kuwait's 3.2 million-population, and make up the majority of the country's workforce.

One can only hope that authorities are serious when they talk of scrapping the sponsorship system. At the moment, expatriates must be sponsored by a local employer in order to get a working permit. Worse, some of those wishing to work in Kuwait end up paying for obtaining no-objection certificates. Agencies collaborating with Kuwaiti recruitment offices collect fees from potential workers in return for getting the right to go and work in Kuwait.

Yet, the process is not always straightforward and exploitation of foreign workers is commonplace. In some cases, working contracts are not honoured, particularly with regard to amount of pay. Many individuals tend to accept lower-than-agreed compensation to sustain themselves. Still, there are cases where newly-arrived employees are left on their own to seek jobs. Those without particular skills may seek employment in cleaning services firms which provide notoriously low pay.

There is no legal minimum wage in the private sector. However, officials are now talking of setting 40 Kuwaiti dinars ($148) a month as minimum wage for private sector employees. Still, any draft bill must obtain parliamentary approval. This is the same amount of minimum compensation extended to domestic workers. Nevertheless, non-citizens working in public sector institutions are entitled to a minimum of 90 dinars ($333) a month.

Civil societies should intervene to eradicate exploitation of expatriates in the country.

- The writer is a Member of Parliament in Bahrain.