The Human Rights Society (HRS) held a panel to discuss the situation of expatriate labor in Kuwait. It was preceded by a documentary highlighting the labor opportunities that Kuwait provides to working expats. The main focus of the HRS's seminar was to address the difficulties faced while working in Kuwait that could result in physical harm. Amer Al-Tamimi, the vice-president of the Human Rights Society, ran the seminar and hosted Thabet Al-Haroun, representing the International Labor Organization in Kuwait, and Awad Shugair Al-Mutairi, Cultural and Media Affairs Officer at the Union of Public Labor in Kuwait.

The speakers addressed whether it is possible to establish a coherent relationship between people from different backgrounds, considering the lack of unified culture and education in Kuwaiti society. They pointed out that Kuwait does not lack laws that protect labor forces and the country does apply human rights standards. They added that several lawsuits have been won by expats against their Kuwaiti employers.

Al-Tamimi commented on the recently amended labor law for the private sector that seems to favor the expat labor force. He explained that the new law does not address the conditions of house laborers in Kuwait, which he described as dire.

Al-Haroun said that Kuwait, on the official level, looks to be one of the leading nations to protect human rights. They are members of international agreements and promote regulations that support human rights, he added.
He pointed out that even though Kuwait has passed progressive labor laws new amendments regarding housekeeping labor and terminating the sponsorship program is a necessity.

Al-Haroun said that the a culture of human rights is absent from the Kuwaiti society. "Before issuing laws the culture should be a priority and this is the role of civil society," he said. Al-Mutairi also agreed that the new labor law missed some of the most important issues, including the housekeeping labor laws. On the other hand he considered the issuing of the new law as a step in the right direction.

He added that if this law is applied properly, it will develop the market and minimize the problems of the national labor force in the private sector.
Al-Mutairi listed the benefits of the new amended labor law such as equalizing vacation time between the private and public sector and clarifying the issues of termination and compensation. - Kuwait Times