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Laws in place to ensure timely payment of salaries, says Kuwait Minister |
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Tuesday, 12 January 2010 15:49 |
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A new labour law promulgated last month has been hailed as a positive step forward to provide more rights for workers in the private sector
The controversial issue of not giving foreign workers their wages is "over", Kuwait's social affairs and labour minister has said.
"We have addressed the government authorities not to pay dues to any company until they made sure that it has paid the wages of its foreign employees," Mohammad Al Afassi said.
"The ministry is now looking into any complaint of non-payment of salaries or wages and, if need, be submitted to the public prosecution," said the minister who has been pushing for better working and living conditions for the hundreds of thousands of foreigners in Kuwait.
A new labour law promulgated last month has been hailed as a positive step forward to provide more rights for workers in the private sector.
The legislation, which replaces a 45-year-old law seen as being favourable to employers at the expense of workers, includes annual leave, end of service indemnities and holidays.
It also sets stringent penalties, including jail terms, for people who trade in visas or who pledge to employ expatriate workers but fail to provide them with jobs or to pay their salaries regularly.
Around 2.3 million foreigners live in Kuwait, mainly Asians working in the booming construction sector. - Gulfnews
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