Labor offices in Jleeb, Farwaniya to assist workers

KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and State Minister for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel yesterday announced that offices of the Public Authority for Manpower will be opened in areas locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic to receive labor complaints in case of disputes or if employers do not give workers their rights. Aqeel said the move was coordinated with Deputy Premier, Interior Minister and State Minister for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh to set up offices of the manpower authority and the investigations department in labor accommodations in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Farwaniya.

She said the manpower authority listens to workers’ complaints and deals with them according to the law to guarantee their rights. She said many complaints led to companies suspected to be involved in human trafficking and legal action was taken against them. Aqeel said many financial guarantees were liquidated and overdue salaries were paid to workers to help face the COVID-19 crisis.

She said she will not hesitate to take stricter action against companies that do not pay employees’ salaries.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking official at the interior ministry was banned from travelling after his name was mentioned during investigations and he will be questioned in a few days. The prosecutor general also asked the justice minister to ask for lifting the immunity of two MPs – one lawmaker received KD 50,000 to run for elections, while the other received KD 380,000 to process transactions, reported Al-Jarida daily. It was also reported that the National Assembly has agreed to publish the names of visa traffickers after Aqeel finalizes a report in this regard. – Agencies