Kuwait disagrees with domestic workers report

KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor(MSAL) is participating in the International Labor Conference which is currently ongoing in Geneva and will conclude on June 17. A report entitled, ‘Decent Work for Domestic Workers’ will be adopted during one of the sessions, detailing the rights that housemaids should be empowered with including regulations to protect them from abuse.

The report defines a domestic worker as “any person engaged in domestic work in an employment relationship.” It indicates that each member state which ratifies the convention must safeguard the rights of all domestic workers, which includes protecting their right to form labor unions, as well as avoid being coerced into hard labor or discrimination.

Furthermore, the report states that regulations must be adopted to protect domestic workers from abuse and violence, in addition to being entitled to receive minimum wages and overtime payments, weekly days off and paid annual leaves. Moreover, the report recommends that domestic workers not be subjected to compulsory HIV or pregnancy tests.

Kuwait has expressed reservation on the Article 19 that spells out an article categorizing working hours and specifies overtime hours. Kuwait proposed that domestic workers be allowed to work during fixed periods of time and be provided adequate rest, be paid for additional work performed during rest hours.

Kuwait has rejected the notion of exempting domestic workers from undergoing HIV tests, arguing that this stipulation is necessary given the nature of the job performed and its effect on the employer and family, reported Al-Rai.

Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi , Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor said that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries plan to ratify the report before leaving Geneva , but will not adopt all of the suggestions put forward. –Kuwait Times