Human Rights Watch praised Kuwait’s efforts to promote human rights and improve conditions for expat workers during the year 2020, Al Qabas reported. In its latest human rights report, the recent procedures and decisions of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) were mentioned including the cancellation of complaints registered against workers during the coronavirus crisis, after the PAM’s investigations revealed that many employers submitted false absentee reports to evade their legal obligations to pay wages or provide food and housing.
The organization also indicated in the report on the events of Kuwait for the year 2020, that the country is still allowing delegates of the organization to enter, and foster dialogue with officials on issues, unlike other countries.
The report also noted the volunteer and humanitarian efforts in Kuwait during the Coronavirus crisis, which included distributing food aid to expat workers through volunteers. Kuwait was also a major pioneer among its Gulf neighbors in adopting the Domestic Workers Law of 2015, but it is now behind them in reforming its sponsorship system, which leaves expat workers vulnerable to abuse.
During the organization’s visit to Kuwait in 2019, it observed some cases of domestic workers facing exploitation despite the measures stipulated in the 2015 Domestic Workers Law. There was also the humanitarian gesture by Kuwaiti authorities issuing an amnesty for expat workers in violation of the residency law, and allowed them to leave the country without paying fines during the coronavirus crisis.
A shelter for the battered
The organization stated Kuwait issued last September the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence, which stipulated for the first time measures to combat domestic violence and help victims, and contained important provisions, including the establishment of a national committee for the protection from domestic violence, as well as the establishment of shelters for domestic violence and a hotline to receive domestic violence complaints, provide legal advice and assistance to victims, and emergency protection orders.
Kuwait in the 2020 report:
1- Kuwait allowed the human rights organization team to discuss their observations.
2- Allowing the residency violators to leave without paying fines.
3- Cancellation of absconding complaints against violating workers from employers.
4 – Issuance of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence.
5- Providing legal advice and assistance to victims of violence.
6 – Registration of domestic workers’ claims for their rights.
7 – Voluntary efforts to help workers during the coronavirus crisis.
8 – Providing food aid to expats residing in the regions.
9 – Punishing sponsors who evaded their legal obligations.
10 – Continuous measures to enshrine human rights.