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Title: Human Trafficking Still Problem in Kuwait Post by Jimbo on Jan 2nd, 2006, 2:02am Human Trafficking Still Problem in Kuwait Jan 1, 3:04 PM (ET) By DIANA ELIAS KUWAIT CITY (AP) - Annu, an Asian house maid, says she worked 19-hour days for a year and was paid nothing. Her eyes well up with tears as she slaps her hand, demonstrating what her employers did when she reached out for food when it was not lunchtime - the only meal they gave her. When she could no longer stand the treatment, Annu fled for help to the embassy of her homeland. The gaunt 38-year-old, her black hair gathered at the back of her head in a plastic clip, said she did not want to leave this tiny oil-rich country and hoped to find a new employer. Her three children back home need the money. An average of 15 maids seek refuge at the embassy everyday, said a diplomat there, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition that he and his nation not be identified for fear of angering Kuwait. About 166 maids currently were living in the embassy awaiting the outcome of mediation with their employers, compensation for rape or air tickets home. Despite the terrible conditions under which many Asians work and live, large numbers want to stay in Kuwait because their chances of finding work that pays a decent wage at home are virtually nil. In June, the U.S. State Department named its major ally Kuwait - estimated population 2.7 million - as one of the countries doing too little to combat human trafficking. The report cited abuse of domestic workers and laborers, and the use of boys from South Asia and Africa as jockeys in camel races. The Bush administration then waived the threat of financial or cultural sanctions on all countries on the list but Myanmar, Cuba and North Korea. No explanation was given when the decision was announced in September. The American ambassador, Richard LeBaron, told reporters last month that Kuwait has "good intentions and plans" for change but "concrete actions are what will make the difference in the re-evaluation of Kuwait's practices." Beyond the approximately 450,000 domestic servants, tens of thousands of laborers from the Indian subcontinent herd sheep in the desert; collect garbage; clean streets, hospitals and government offices; and work in agriculture for salaries as low as $68 a month. Demonstrations by laborers claiming they are not paid for months at a time are common. In April, more than 700 Bangladeshi workers ransacked their country's embassy in frustration. Newspaper columnists have called their plight "slave trade." Lawmaker Ali al-Rashed, who heads the human rights committee in Kuwait's Parliament, said servant abuse is an "exception," and some maids "make up" stories of abuse to get out of their contracts. However, he conceded the government must act more quickly to guarantee prompt payment of laborers and to punish companies that "harm Kuwait's reputation" by not meeting their obligations. Some cleaning workers have told The Associated Press they depend on charities for food. Kuwait has imposed a ban on boys riding camels in races, with robots having been introduced to take their places. The government has a labor claims department but not all foreign laborers know about it, speak enough Arabic to communicate their grievances or can afford the transportation and time off from work to use it. In April 2004, the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration proposed establishing a migrants' resource center that would provide advice and legal services for foreign workers who face problems and do not know where to find help. But Mohammed al-Nassery, the IOM's chief of mission in Kuwait, said he has not been able to find a way to gain access to maids at their workplaces in a way that would not "compromise" the privacy or integrity of the Kuwaiti household. He said Muslim clerics should preach humane treatment of foreign laborers, and human rights should be included in school books, adding that changing behavior will take generations. At the root of the grievances is the sponsorship system, which allows a Kuwaiti individual to employ house help, dismiss them or send them back home at whim. Although it is illegal, most hold the passports of these workers. The union that represents the 500 companies that recruit domestic workers from Asian nations is writing new contracts to be signed by maids, the sponsor and the recruitment agency. They are said to limit working hours to eight per day, insure overtime payments and a day off. The Asian diplomat, however, said the contracts would be pointless if maids, for example, are kept in the homes of their employers and off limits to those who could help them. Many Kuwaitis reject outside pressure for change, even from Washington, the leading force in the 1991 Gulf War, which ended a seven-month Iraqi occupation of this country. A cartoon published in Al-Watan daily newspaper in November showed a citizen telling what appeared to be a U.S. ambassador: "I hope that you don't think we have become your slaves because you liberated us, Mr. Ambassador." When the diplomat told him they were using boys to ride camels in races and not giving Asian workers their dues, the man replied: "Ooh, I thought you were talking about something important." |
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Title: Re: Human Trafficking Still Problem in Kuwait Post by nOrKAy on Jan 2nd, 2006, 9:34am Yes, human traffiking is an issue in every country, and one of the biggest number of sufferers are the domestic helpers. However, I believe Hong Kong is not one of those countries who have really serious issues on this, since they are covered by HK Labor Department's law. I am afraid, the MIddle East that icludes Soudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and U.E.A. have the biggest numbers of human violation cases against domestic helpers. Inhumane, both physical and mental, treatment of domestic helpers also happen in Hong Kong. These people mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, whose motivation is the noblest of causes, getting money to their families, are mal-treated. But if only they had the courage to file complains and put these abusive employers to the justice, this problem can easily be illiminated. But the reasons that are often heard are their fear of being fired or terminated from work. In the Middle East's case, the problem that I see, why this kind of issue becomes big, is domestic helpers are not covered or protected by the law. If the government was keen about helping these people, then strict, serious labour laws would be in place. Laws that protect workers from being underpaid, abused in any way and having to work in extremely unsafe, hard conditions. Labourers and domestic workers are mistreated and underpaid because employers get away with it. In Hong Kong, we have those laws enforced. Otherwise, I can't take to stay with my job, witnessing these people I employed and just keep listening to complaints and abuses these helpers suffer. The case of the housemaids is especially worrisome. God only knows what these women helpers must be going through. But that’s not my only concern, the damage is not only towards these women. How about the children that see everyday how their main carer is being treated with cruelty and disrespect by their own parents?These children are learning from their parents that it’s OK to treat others with cruelty. Instead of learning kindness and empathy from their parents, they are getting a very dangerous message. Those children will certainly grow into monsters. Who is the main victim here? I wish I could address this directly to employers, but I believe there are many members/readers in the forum that have domestic/local helpers. If you can't respect your helpers or treat them like a part of your family, at least, DON'T HURT THEM. |
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Title: Re: Human Trafficking Still Problem in Kuwait Post by Jimbo on Jan 2nd, 2006, 2:57pm on 01/02/06 at 09:34:14, nOrKAy wrote:
Thank you for your response...I am writting an article about modern day SLAVERY, that is very shocking....It was supposed to be abolished in the U.S.A., but continues as I write.. In fact, it is widespread throughout the world...We have imagrants in this country, that are in fact slaves, and are allowed to work only if they obey their employers...God only knows the abuse they take just to survive, and support their familys...The children are the ultimate losers in this sad state of affairs..Their hatred will be enhanced by what they see, and I predict an uprising will occur sooner than later..A caged animal is just waiting to escape, and when they do, who is to blame for their behavior when they have had enough? :-[ ??? |
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Title: Re: Human Trafficking Still Problem in Kuwait Post by nOrKAy on Jan 2nd, 2006, 3:41pm Jimbo, I look forward to reading what you are writing. This is indeed a good article/news you have shared. ;D |
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