Kuwait Trade Union Federation, in collaboration with Solidarity Center, has organized Labor Law (No. 6 of 2010) workshop for Sierra Leoneans working in the Private Sector in the State of Kuwait.
The Labor Education workshop is the 12th series conducted by the Kuwait Trade Union Federation and the Solidarity Center to empower migrant workers in the course of their duty.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary-General of the Kuwait Trade Federation, Mohammed Al-Arada noted that the Kuwait Trade Union Federation was very keen on labor education primarily for migrant workers to know their rights, adding that the step-by-step guide through the Kuwait Labor Law would be essential to the Sierra Leone Embassy in the State of Kuwait, the Union and Sierra Leoneans working in the Private Sector.
“The Sierra Leone Community in the State of Kuwait is considered as one of the best set of migrant workers who have been partners in the development of the country. Today, we are discussing labor law, and it is vital that Sierra Leonean Stakeholders have some experience through the knowledge that is being imparted, so that they can transfer the knowledge acquired to Sierra Leoneans working in the private sector, particularly in knowing their labor rights,” he said.
The Program Coordinator of Solidarity Center in Kuwait, Abdulrahman Al-Turki disclosed that the Solidarity Center in Kuwait had been closely working with the Kuwait Trade Union Federation in series of programs in ensuring that migrant workers know their rights and how to seek redress when necessary. He believed that the seminar would serve as a useful guide for the Sierra Leonean Community in the State of Kuwait.
The President of the Sierra Leone Union in the State of Kuwait, Alpha Vangahun thanked the Trade Union Federation and the Solidarity Center for organizing the seminar and more especially for recognizing his leadership and the Sierra Leone Embassy, noting further that the array of training received has been beneficial to migrant workers of the Sierra Leone Community.
The President added that before now, many migrant workers had struggled to clamour for their rights as the Labor Law demanded, but with the knowledge acquired, he revealed, migrant workers would be in a better position to stand for their rights without recourse to violence.
Speaking during the session, the Legal Consultant of the Kuwait and Middle East Financial Investment Company, Khalid Al-Shurman said the Law of Labor in the Private Sector was one of the best laws capable of empowering migrant workers on their social, private and labour issues. Taking participants through the provisions of the law, he emphasized the need for workers to be conversant with the provisions of the said law in the performance of their duties, as the labour law would serve as a weapon for them.
“The Private Sector Labor Law of Kuwait (Law No. 6 of 2010) covers the labor rights of all private-sector workers regardless of citizenship or nationality. In Kuwait, migrant workers are protected by the Private Sector Law, Oil Sector Law, and Civil Service Law. Kuwait Labour Law includes all essential rules and regulations that a migrant worker needs to be aware of before accepting the job contract. These include end-of-service indemnities calculation, permissible working hours, annual leave, sick leave entitlement, maternity leave etc,” he stated.
In his closing statement, he advised Sierra Leone migrant workers to maintain their good reputation in Kuwait by improving on their professional and personal performance, refraining from illegal activities, concealing companies secret and channeling complaints to the Sierra Leone Embassy and the Union respectively.
At the end of the session, the Kuwait Trade Union Federation presented a plaque to the Sierra Leone Embassy and the Sierra Leone Union in recognition of their participation and a shooting photo session followed.
Cyril Barnes,
Information Attaché,
Sierra Leone Embassy
The State of Kuwait,
Contact: +96599827207
