To focus on the national efforts to overcome and contain the situation, its socioeconomic impact on migrant workers and how their vulnerabilities could be exacerbated throughout this crisis. Highlighting the effective regulation of migrant workers’ recruitment and placement will enhance their protection and contribute to the sustainable development of Kuwait moving forward.
Dr Tarek welcomed the participants and the panel:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: HE Nasser Sabeeh Al-Sabeeh, Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation
Ministry of Interior: Colonel Haytham Al-Othman, Department of Public Ethics and Counter-trafficking and Lieutenant Colonel Amal Al-Awadi, Counter-trafficking Unit
Public Authority for Manpower Dr Abdallah Salem Al-Rashidi, Director of the Citizen Service Department
Sheikha Bibi Nasser Al-Sabah, IOM Goodwill Ambassador for Kuwait & GCC
Dr Mohannad Dweikat, Regional Expert on Counter-trafficking
This is the first UN talk organized by the UN Migration Network in Kuwait, which gathers the joint efforts entities working in coordinated matters from their areas of expertise to support the Government of Kuwait towards contributing to the achievement of 2030 SDGs Agenda, and Kuwait implementation of the Global compact for Migration as voted in favor during the UN General Assembly in December 2018.
Across different contexts, we are learning how social cohesion plays a fundamental role in ensuring that everybody is safe from the pandemic. Remembering that “no one will be safe from the pandemic, until everybody is safe”
The Covid-19 has taken a special toll on low income migrant communities in Kuwait, from the health perspective, as well as through the consequences of the containment measures. Many are losing their jobs, sources of income, affecting their livelihood and support to their families
Migrant workers are often not covered by protections of standard labor laws and social protection measures. Layoffs could trigger the expiration of visas or work permits, forcing workers into undocumented or irregular status. Furthermore, the lack of income security creates an incentive to work while sick, inviting further spread of the virus.
Vulnerabilities are often exacerbated through the crisis. Lessons from previous global crises suggests that an increased risk of exploitation and abuse when national systems are overwhelmed or break down
Among the forms of exploitation, despite efforts from the GoK illicit permit acquisition prevails in Kuwait. This form of irregular stay as the trading is done through irregular channels where no documentation or proof of the workers’ employment exists
Visa trading, is another problem, describes a situation where a migrant’s legal paperwork is valid for a certain position, however, post-entry, the migrant performs a substantively different job as part of the informal labour market.
Sometimes, this occurs because the migrant worker was deceived by unscrupulous recruiters about the nature of the job awaiting them in the GCC, which is particularly problematic in areas with low levels of education.
Human trafficking and migrant smuggling often overlap in reality. When human trafficking is confused with migrant smuggling, trafficking victims may not receive the protections, services, or legal redress to which they are entitled and may be vulnerable to being re-exploited
This results in an uneven institutional attitude that deters vulnerable migrants from working with law enforcement and/or seeking their help, which in turn means they seek assistance outside of the legal framework and ultimately put themselves in a more vulnerable situation.
Express pleasure in having all the distinguished panel members gathered in this occasion, with the hope of having a productive discussion on the important steps that the Government of Kuwait has taken in response to COVID 19, and the impacts on the migrant workers, as well as the efforts towards combating and eradicating human trafficking in all of its forms, while protecting and assisting the victims of trafficking with full respect for their human rights
It is important to work together to excel together, build more focused partnerships that are flexible and complements each other in order to advance in supporting migrants.
By Dr. Tarek Elsheikh
Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator
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