IT IS GOOD news that “The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor completed the executive bylaws of the new private sector labor law which has been submitted to the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Mohammed Al-Afasi for approval.” These bylaws “were amended to comply with the new law, particularly the ban on expatriate personnel from working in the open without protection from the sun, and decisions related to absconding cases” (Arab Times May 26, 2010). We do hope of course that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor start using stricter monitoring system or follow up procedures regarding the new labor law. We know for example that not all companies or individual sponsors are fully complying with the new labor law, especially in allowing the transfer of residency, paying due salaries and most importantly stopping all forms of exploitation of some expatriate employees.

What we wish to see take place is a more effective government bureaucratic system through which all sponsors fulfill their legal obligations toward their employees, free of any form of intimidation and blackmail!
What is at stake too regarding the new labor law is whether it complies with the work standards of the International Labor Organization especially those relating to decent work. As such, amending the new labor law or issuing bylaws must confirm to international expectations about the proper relationship between the employer and employee. Besides having in place more transparent, effective following up procedures to check whether sponsors, especially big companies, are complying is a step in the right direction.

In fact, what is at stake here is the present and future conditions of our economic and social environments. If we do not issue labor bylaws that create a more welcoming and safe environment for decent work, we will not achieve our economic national objectives.
We applaud the efforts of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor while it continues to uplift the conditions of expatriate workers. These people are our real partners while we continue achieving our most prized objective: transforming Kuwait into a regional, egalitarian, decent and competitive market.

khaledaljenfawi@yahoo.com