VZCZCXRO2036
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #1769/01 3650452
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 310452Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0488
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, INL/HSTC, INL/G/TIP (PATEL), DRL/IL 
(ANZALDUA) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2017 
TAGS: ECON ELAB KIPR KU PGOV PHUM PREL KTFN TIP
SUBJECT: NEW MINISTER OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND LABOR ON TIP 
AND LABOR ISSUES IN KUWAIT 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1657 B. KUWAIT 1588 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: On December 13, CDA met with MoSAL/Justice 
Minister Jamal Ahmed Al-Shihab.  The Minister said that the 
GOK was appreciative of external pressure (up to a point) to 
resolve TIP issues and promised to partner with the Embassy 
to make further progress on TIP.  Minister Al-Shihab was 
optimistic that current public sector pay raise disputes 
would be resolved by the GOK in February after the release of 
the World Bank study on the matter and remarked that the 
public respects the government when the government takes a 
firm position.  He also stressed the importance of raising 
understanding between charitable organizations and the USG 
when it comes to terrorist finance, and wants the Ministry of 
Social Affairs and Labor to act as a bridge for dialogue 
between the two parties. END SUMMARY. 
 
GOK GRATEFUL FOR EXTERNAL PRESSURE ON TIP 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.  (C) On December 13, CDA, accompanied by Econoff and 
Poloff, paid a visit to the newly (October 2007) appointed 
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Justice Jamal 
Al-Shihab.  Minister Al-Shihab began the discussion about 
combating trafficking in persons (TIP) by saying that Kuwait 
is "happy to be monitored" for TIP violations and welcomed 
international pressure to increase efforts to combat TIP as 
long as this pressure did not go so far as to publicly 
embarrass Kuwait.  He remarked that with regard to human 
rights issues, developing societies need to be monitored and 
that the GOK will be a good partner on this issue.  Minister 
Al-Shihab stated that the Ministry of Social Affairs and 
Labor (MoSAL) plans to work hard in partnership with the 
Embassy to establish a permanent shelter for domestic workers 
and push through the drafted anti-TIP legislation.  The 
Minister commented that combating TIP and resolving related 
issues must be part of Kuwait's broader economic plan in 
terms of reforming the labor market.  Al-Shihab concluded 
that all parts of society must work together to combat TIP 
and that he believes awareness about the issue is increasing. 
 He pointed out that the Islamists are raising this as a 
moral issue and it is being spoken about in Friday sermons at 
mosques.  He added that using moral pressure is an easy way 
to reach people and increase awareness about TIP.  Al-Shihab 
said that many newly wealthy Kuwaitis needed to be educated 
on how to treat domestic servants. 
 
LABOR ISSUES: "PEOPLE LIKE IT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS TOUGH" 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Minister Al-Shihab was optimistic that current 
demands for public sector pay raises and labor strikes would 
be resolved in February with the release of a study being 
conducted by the World Bank (at the request of the GOK).  The 
Minister said that the GOK was trying to change the attitude 
of the population so that they do not "rely on the government 
for everything."  He explained that it was important for the 
GOK to be tough and not give in to demands everytime there is 
a strike.  He opined that the money itself, which the GOK can 
readily afford, was not the issue, but the GOK needed to 
consider the long-term productivity of the Kuwait labor force 
and consult with other Gulf countries on their labor 
practices rather than making any precipitous decisions.  He 
stated that striking laborers were a concern and not 
something the GOK wanted to see become a trend, adding that 
"people like it when the government is tough."  (NOTE: A 
number of fields within the public sector, including aviation 
and health care, were disrupted by inconsistently applied pay 
increases for certain groups within the public sector and not 
others (Ref. A).  On November 19, workers from the Civil 
Aviation Authority went on strike for approximately two-hours 
disrupting some service to and from Kuwait's international 
airport.  The GOK has requested an assessment by the World 
Bank in order to establish a balanced wage increase for the 
entire public sector.  END NOTE.) 
 
TERRORIST FINANCING 
------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) CDA commended MoSAL's efforts to monitor and control 
charitable contributions during Ramadan and asked the 
Minister what more could be done on this front.  Minister 
Al-Shihab responded that MoSAL wants to be a bridge between 
the charitable organizations and the USG to enhance dialogue 
about terrorist finance (Ref. B).  The Minister remarked that 
many of the charities feel that the USG is "against them" and 
 
KUWAIT 00001769  002 OF 002 
 
 
that MoSAL wanted to serve in a capacity to increase 
awareness and transparency on the issue of charitable giving. 
 
PLEASE PROVIDE ARABIC SPEAKERS FOR IPR TRAINING 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5.  (U) CDA briefed the Minister on upcoming training 
opportunities for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) 
enforcement and said that he hoped there would be good GOK 
participation.  Minister Al-Shihab asserted the importance of 
having Arabic speakers conduct the training.  He asked that 
the USG provide the training in Arabic to ensure success. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER