‘Repeated crises leads to exodus of trained domestic workers to neighboring nations’
239 prisoners set for Tuesday dawn release
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 23: Delay in approval of the new unified contract for the recruitment of Filipino domestic workers became part of the crises in Kuwait where the activities of several recruitment agencies are currently halted despite the fast approaching holy month of Ramadan, adding the agencies were unable to complete applications to issue visas for some Filipino domestic workers contracted for, prior to the ban, in cooperation with the foreign offices, reports Al-Anba daily.
The daily sought the opinions of several domestic workers who expressed anguish over the authorities’ delay in issuing or adopting the final draft of the contract despite the two sides agreeing on the major items of the contract.
To begin with, owner of an agency for recruiting domestic workers, Ali Al-Ali, pointed out that the final form of the new contract has yet to be approved in spite of obtaining the consent of Fatwa and Legislation Department. He affirmed seriousness of the current crisis, indicating the offices are without applications for several weeks, while the Kuwaiti families have urgent need for domestic workers due to the approaching Ramadan.
Al-Ali appealed to concerned authorities to expedite solutions to the crisis by approving the new unified contract to stop the financial losses suffered by the recruitment offices in Kuwait, given that thousands of citizens who obtained visas for Filipino workers before the total ban was issued by Philippines’ Ministry of Labor are still to come.
He added the repeated crises negatively affect the sector, resulting in exodus of professional and trained domestic workers to neighboring countries.
Bassam Al-Shammari, another domestic recruitment office owner, pointed out that the Philippines side has completed all procedures required to lift the ban of deployment on their domestic workers to Kuwait, indicating delay of the procedures in Kuwait will lead to material losses in private sector represented by the companies, domestic recruitment offices, and Kuwaiti citizens.
For his part, Nader Habib who also owns a domestic recruitment office affirmed the Philippines has yet to deploy any domestic worker to Kuwait until now, as they are waiting for the issuance and approval of the new unified contracts by Kuwait.
239 inmates for release: The Correctional institutions will release 239 prisoners at dawn next Tuesday, out of the 839 prisoners who are included in the Amiri Pardon on the occasion of the national holidays.
A security source told the daily the immediate release includes those prisoners who have spent a quarter of their term, while the rest are waiting for the completion of the remainder of that period.
The source explained among the women covered by the amnesty includes 33 women and those whose fines and guarantees have been dropped.
In addition, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Lt Gen Issam Al-Naham has issued a decision to release all members of the police force who have been arrested, on the occasion of National and Liberation Day.
Urine test swapped: An unidentified policeman has been handed over to the personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for attempting to giving his urine for test instead of a man who was caught by police for driving under the influence of alcohol, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to security sources, during an inspection tour at an unidentified location, police arrested a motorist for driving under the influence of alcohol and handed him over to the police station of the area.
When the man was referred to Criminal Evidences Department lab for a blood and urine test, one of the policemen who drove the man to the CED attempted to give the urine sample on his behalf taking advantage that the nurse was preoccupied with someone else.
However, when the nurse discovered the motorist had not moved from his place, he suspected the policeman and informed the concerned authorities.
When the senior officials checked the CCTV footage of the camera installed in the area, they discovered the motorist had not moved from the place and detained the policeman for interrogation.
Indian arrested: The security personnel manning the Salmi border post have arrested an unidentified Indian while attempting to infiltrate into Saudi Arabia, reports Al-Rai daily.
According to security sources the suspect was seen hiding and crawling between parked cars and trucks in a vain attempt to evade the cameras installed in the area.
However, when one of the vehicles in which he was hiding arrived at the last gate he was seized and it became clear he is wanted by Kuwait in connection with several cases.
He has been handed over to the authorities.
Fight in police station: A police station in Al-Ahmadi governorate witnessed a strange incident, reports Al-Anba daily.
According to the daily a lawyer had gone to the police station with his two clients on the background of a case filed against a police officer, however, the lawyer was surprised that a fight took place between his clients and the officer and his relatives.
Both sides accused each other of initiating the fight. Both sides have submitted medical reports showing injuries.
The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution.