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Kuwait to scrap immigrant sponsor system A new labour law in the oil-rich emirate may pave the way for abolition of its restrictive sponsorship process for foreign workers
An International Labor Organization (ILO) representative in Kuwait, Nader Al-Haroun, has revealed a joint project with the Kuwaiti Social Affairs and Labor Ministry to abolish the emirate's controversial 'sponsorship system'. Kuwait, following the example of Bahrain, has vowed to scrap the sponsor system by which employers arrange and control visas for expatriate workers while depriving them from some of their civil rights, such as the right to change work, travel or bring their wife or children to visit. Al-Haroun said that a 'Labor Organization' will be established soon to tackle the replacement of the system, which requires training current labour ministry workers to be able to face the challenges that will arise due to the shift. The Kuwaiti parliament recently approved a labour law intended to replace the draconian system but legislative codes are still being drafted. Saudi Arabia, the region's largest economy, has been reluctant to amend its labour practices, stating bluntly that sponsor regulations are not subject to change. Many Arab and non-Arab countries have requested the abolishment of sponsorship: Egypt recently made a proposal to the Arab Labor Conference suggesting they be cancelled. Earlier this year, India -- whose citizens comprise a significant portion of the expatriate population in the Gulf -- began diplomatic discussions with Gulf countries to try and replace the laws.
