A Study To Abolish Domestic Labor Law And Cover These Workers Under ‘article 18’

In a step to solve the aggravating problems faced by the domestic labor market, the International Labor Organization and the Public Authority for Manpower discussed canceling the law related to this category of workers and bring these workers under the umbrella of the National Labor Law and treat on par with Article 18.

Informed sources told Al-Qabas, this step will provide protection for domestic workers, limit their working hours to 8, and plug the loose phrases in the current law, which allow sponsors to make domestics work for 12 hours non-stop.

The sources stated one of the most prominent advantages, which will contribute to promoting the inclusion of domestic workers under the umbrella of the civil labor law, is the obligation of the sponsor to open a bank account for the worker to deposit their monthly salaries, in addition to other legal follow-up on holidays and vacations.

The sources added Domestic Labor Department will then be able to protect domestic workers, receive complaints and follow them up or refer them to the judiciary, in addition to coordinating with their respective embassies regarding employment conditions to find solutions to problems and facilitate them to leave the country as was the case of the 300 Filipinos who left the country the day before yesterday after settling their ‘disputes’ under the supervision of their country’s embassy. Work is also underway to solve the problems of Sri Lankan laborers, in addition to increasing the volume of domestic workers’ recruitment to Kuwait.

The sources pointed out the meeting between the two organizations also discussed the use of technology to provide innovative solutions, improve working conditions, and follow inspection procedures via the Internet, to ensure wider access to workplaces and the residence of workers.

In the context of fundamental amendments in the labor market, responsible sources revealed a trend by the competent authorities to amend the labor law in the private sector, in order to raise the minimum wage from 75 dinars to 100 according to the study that will be completed soon, after receiving international human rights observations in this regard that are commensurate with the high cost of living, because the current minimum wage formula is not sufficient to cover the requirements of life of these people.

Under the umbrella of the National Labor Law domestic workers stand to make the following gains:

1 – Obliging the sponsor to open a bank account for the worker to deposit the monthly salaries

2 – Legal follow-up of the worker’s rights on holidays and vacations

3 – Expediting labor complaints and referring them to the judiciary

4 – Coordination with the respective embassies of concerned workers regarding the employment situation

5 – Strict measures against sponsors who delay paying salaries

 

SOURCE : TIMESKUWAIT

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