Kuwait Embassy responds

Kuwait Embassy responds

Regarding the article published in The Jakarta Post on March
4, titled Nuwa Wea hears horror stories of RI maids, allow me to
clarify certain points.

I admit that there are serious problems involving several
domestic Indonesian employees working in Kuwait, as I mentioned
in a number of interviews.

They cannot be solved overnight, particularly legal cases
currently in court. However, let me assure you that our
respective governments are both working hard to improve the
situation. I believe that the root of such problems can be
addressed by looking at the onset of the employment of these
people, in particular how they were recruited by employment
agencies.

It is clear from this that there are irresponsible recruiting
agencies that failed to prepare and inform adequately these
people on what is expected in Kuwait or other countries. For our
part we are very much aware of the problems that face the workers
and are attempting to address such issues through three ministry
task forces and the Kuwait Red Cross.

I personally contacted Ambassador Hadromi Nakim and related
Indonesian ministries to seek a suitable solution to this
important humanitarian case. I also visited the annex building to
the Indonesian Embassy in Kuwait, which currently accommodates
Indonesian workers seeking shelter.

We are now trying to repatriate these workers at the cost of
the Kuwaiti government, pending the completion of certain
formalities.

There was no intention on my part to avoid your reporters due
to miscommunication. However, I would be open to another meeting
to talk to you in the near future. I can be contacted on the
following numbers: 3928069 or 52964953.

MOHAMED FADEL KHALAF, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait, Jakarta