Human Rights Watch has called on Kuwaiti MPs to take into consideration domestic workers under the new labor draft law , reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. In a statement, the organization says it has verified the new draft law doesn’t take into account 600,000 domestic workers under its protection, in spite of strict penalties spelt against private companies which oppress and abuse their workers. Meanwhile, the Assistant Director of Human Rights Watch for Middle East and North Africa noted it will be considered extreme injustice, if domestic workers who constitute about a quarter of expatriate personnel in Kuwait are without protection, whereas they work for long hours. He stressed the new draft law embraces improved working conditions such as a ban on irrational dismissal, gender bias and racial discrimination, while employers who decline to pay laborers their salaries or bring in workers without giving them jobs will face imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM) Dr Nasser Al-Sane’a has asked the National Assembly to review and approve the law for the handicapped as soon as possible, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In a press statement, Al-Sane’a said the plight of all handicapped persons should be considered while reviewing the law. He asked that centers for persons with special needs be established soon, so that the families of these persons receive some support. He added that all aspects, whether legal, social or humanitarian, should be taken into account before disregarding this law. In another development, the Public Relations Manager at the Government and Manpower Restructuring Program (GMRP) Abdulaziz Al-Qassar stated the issue of unemployment and increase in the number of job-seekers over the last few years has compelled the government to exert efforts in playing down progression of the phenomenon, reports Al-Seyassah daily.

Al-Qassar made the statement at the opening of the 6th Job Opportunities Exhibition recently. He stressed the key responsibility rests on institutions in the private sector to encourage and invite national personnel, and noted the crucial role played by the media for both job-seekers and employers. He explained the media offers opportunity for both sides to meet and get to know each other to ensure young people gain confidence in working at the private sector. At the same time, employers can be assured of abilities of the youth. This step should transform the primeval belief and ideas the families have conceived about working in the private sector.