KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti MP has called for an end to the practice of migrant workers. In a recommendation to parliament, MP Abdullah al-Thuraiji called for a change in the current law that allows expatriates to change jobs. The MP’s criticism is that after entering the job under one sponsor and shifting the job to another sponsor in search of higher salary before the extra time is over.
The job change of expatriates should be studied
He said in the petition that the Home Ministry should be tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry into the current practice of changing sponsors as per the expatriate workers’ feel and cases of workers fleeing from sponsors. Al-Thuraiji said the government should work with other government departments to investigate the allegations. Similarly, he recommends that the Home Ministry investigate and report on the manner in which an employee is being kidnapped by another sponsor from one sponsor.
It is not right to change jobs after getting job training
The MP wants to prevent a person from leaving the job under that sponsor and entering into another job after entering the job under a sponsor and acquiring the required job training and skills from under him. Expatriates often change jobs in this way in search of higher pay and better facilities. The MP pointed out in the recommendation that this was a very difficult matter for the first sponsor.
The existing law should be amended
The MP wants the existing law to be amended to prevent the sponsor from leaving halfway through after getting good job training from the first sponsor. This should be discussed with the Parliament. The law should be amended to protect the rights of the first sponsor. He also demanded that an employee who has worked and trained under a sponsor for at least six months be prevented from leaving him within a specified period. Under current law, an employee can apply for a change of employment after completing one year under a sponsor. He added that if the sponsor refuses, the court will intervene and allow it.
Five year ban on change of employment
The new law should provide for the expulsion of those who wish to change jobs after at least one year of employment under a new sponsor. They should also be barred from entering Kuwait for the next five years. At the same time, he said, the amendment of the law should be in line with the guarantees given to the people by the Constitution of the country regarding the protection of workers’ rights, as well as the existing international laws relating to the protection of the rights of the employer.
Employees get support for job changes
Many domestic workers, drivers, farmers and cooks enter the workforce under a sponsor with no previous experience in the field. However, the current practice is to work under a sponsor and then transfer to another sponsor in search of higher pay or facilities after completing the required training. In a letter to parliament, Thuraiji said Labor offices and brokers had noticed that some locals and foreigners were encouraging workers in this regard.
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