“Human Trafficking”: Kuwait Enhances Its Framework to Combat It
The Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower, Engineer Rabab Al-Asimi, confirmed that the Authority continues to fulfill its role in combating human trafficking by implementing the strategic plan of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.
Al-Asimi announced, in statements to journalists on the sidelines of an event marking the World Day against Human Trafficking, the launch of a new service called “Belghani” (Report Me) via the unified government application “Sahel.” This service enables individuals and employers to report any suspected cases of human trafficking, while ensuring complete confidentiality for whistleblowers and victims.
She clarified that the Authority is an active member of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, chaired by the Minister of Justice, and implements several recommendations outlined in the strategic plan, most notably awareness campaigns on workers’ rights. These include the “Protect Your Rights” campaign, which delivers simplified awareness messages via social media to inform workers and employers of their rights and obligations.
She added that the Authority has intensified inspection campaigns to enforce regulations governing the labor market and enhanced its mechanisms during the current year, alongside strengthening its electronic services. She noted that the “Belghani” service allows all members of society to report any suspicion of human trafficking, after which the Authority investigates and verifies the reports and takes necessary measures to protect victims and facilitate their reintegration into the Kuwaiti labor market.
She pointed out that the intensification of inspection campaigns in recent periods has contributed to a decline in violations, resulting from employers’ and workers’ compliance with labor market regulations. She emphasized that the Authority focuses on achieving a balance between the rights of workers and employers, urging both parties to adhere to the law and treat each other with humanity.
She further stated that digital transformation has not reduced the number of reports so much as it has facilitated workers’ access to the Authority and expedited the procedures for submitting and tracking complaints electronically from anywhere. She stressed that all reports, including those submitted through the “Belghani” service, are subject to the highest levels of confidentiality to safeguard the safety of whistleblowers and victims.
For her part, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights Affairs, Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Duaij Al-Sabah, confirmed that Kuwait annually observes the World Day against Human Trafficking, driven by its commitment to raising societal awareness of workers’ rights and enhancing national and international efforts to combat this crime.
She said that Kuwait possesses a national strategy to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, stemming from the National Committee chaired by the Minister of Justice and comprising various relevant government entities, thereby strengthening the integration of efforts in this file.
She noted that Kuwait hosts approximately 1.7 million workers in the private sector, along with around 700,000 domestic workers, emphasizing that protecting their rights is a priority within the framework of the state’s commitment to human rights.
Al-Sabah explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Department of Human Rights Affairs, works through Kuwait’s membership in the International Labour Organization, in partnership with the Public Authority for Manpower, the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Workers’ Union, as well as through its role in the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking. She affirmed that cooperation among relevant entities is witnessing continuous development.
The Ministry of Manpower announced the launch of the “Belghani” service via the unified government application “Sahel,” which allows citizens and residents to directly report any violations of labor law provisions, as part of its efforts to enhance oversight and protect the rights of all parties in the employment relationship.
The Authority clarified that the service aims to provide a safe and fair working environment under the slogan “Because your report makes a difference,” enabling users to identify violations, document them with photos, and easily submit reports via the “Sahel” app by entering the required data, while tracking the actions taken by the relevant authorities.
Mohammed Al-Muzaini, Director of the Public Relations and Media Department at the Ministry of Labour, stated that Kuwait has a comprehensive system for monitoring and following up on human trafficking cases, and that anti-trafficking efforts are based on close cooperation between the Authority and the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Justice, as well as the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking. He noted that Kuwaiti laws criminalize forced labor and the confiscation of workers’ official documents.
