KUWAIT CITY, June 16: Senior legal expert at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor Dr Zaki Al-Selaimi has denounced the latest report of the US State Department, which put Kuwait in Tier 3 (watch list) for failure to take enough measures to combat human trafficking, reports Al-Seyassah daily.
Al-Selaimi claimed the report is inaccurate since Kuwait has forwarded a draft bill on forbidding human trafficking to the National Assembly long time ago. He added the previous and current labor laws in the private sector were issued to protect the rights of expatriate laborers. He asserted any laborer can resign and get all his dues in case his employer abuses him or violates his rights. He said the ministry will transfer the worker’s residence permit immediately to protect him.
Commenting on the same issue, Follow-up and Coordination Department Head at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khalid Al-Meghams said he was surprised when he read the report as no country tolerates human trafficking. He stressed Kuwait is keen on protecting human rights and complying with international treaties in this regard.