Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has stated that it received more than 3,000 complaints from employees, mainly over non-payment of salaries during the coronavirus pandemic period. PAM also said it had referred nearly 400 files of companies alleged to have engaged in human trafficking to the Public Prosecution.
Elaborating on these statements, the Deputy Director General for Manpower Protection at PAM, Dr. Mubarak Al-Azmi, said: “During the period of the coronavirus pandemic we formed two crisis and emergency teams in addition to the existing inspection teams, to monitor the conditions of expatriate workers. During this period, we received around 3,000 complaints from employees, of which 2,300 cases were settled by providing necessary assistance.
In addition, the teams tackled other urgent matters during this crisis including the state’s deportation of residency visa violators, as well as handling workers who wanted to return to their homelands. The departure of 800 expat workers to their country was facilitated in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Civil Aviation authorities.”
Explaining PAM’s procedures for complaints of non-payment of salaries, Al-Azmi explained that “with regard to salaries, we start by calling the employer through the Ministry of Interior, and we try to reach amicable solutions, In most cases the employer fully cooperates and we can ensure the workers get their salaries. However, if there is no cooperation, measures are then taken against the perpetrator in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.” He explained that all complaints are dealt with, whether the employees go on strike or issue a normal complaint.
PAM made sure 1,980 employees were paid their salaries during the pandemic period, as some employers said they found it difficult to communicate with their workers. Under these circumstances, PAM acted as a middle-man in facilitating the salary handover process by ensuring the payments were made at the authority’s headquarters.
He pointed out that some employers were unable to pay salaries as they had no financial liquidity, and in such cases, they were referred to the judiciary, stressing that the most important thing is to ensure workers’ rights and ease the process for their return to their home countries.
On the topic of human trafficking, Al-Azmi explained that “after receiving any complaints, we look into the registered files of employers to find any problems regarding the employment of workers.”
He added that an investigation is launched against anyone on suspicion of residency visa trading, or human trafficking, and PAM gathers information of these crimes before handing the file over to the Public Prosecution or the General Department of Investigations. He noted that since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis PAM had sent 400 files to the prosecution, and is continuing to uncover any company or institution that has been involved in these crimes.
Read Today's News TODAY... on our Telegram Channel click here to join and receive all the latest updates t.me/thetimeskuwait
