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FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 17593 THULQADA 14, 1439 AH FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 KOTC: Bab al-Mandeb tensions Imran Khan claims victory in Salah, Mane on target 9 minimally affect Kuwait exports 10 acrimonious Pakistan election 46 as Liverpool down City Pearl divers return to warm welcome See Pages 4 & 5 2 Friday Local Friday, July 27, 2018 PHOTO OF THE DAY Give her a day off Local Spotlight By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] very time I hear negative comments or racist opin- ions about labor rights, I feel sorry and ashamed of Ethose who despise the poor, who are forced to work abroad due to poverty. Recently I heard the views of some Filipinos friends and their feelings with regards to comments by a Kuwaiti woman who posted a video on Instagram on July 10 in which she rejected the new rules that were introduced in May to give Filipino domestic helpers a day off every week and prevent employers from keeping their passports. On May 11, Kuwait and Manila signed an agreement regulating domestic labor following a diplomatic crisis that led to a ban on Filipino workers heading to work in the country. “Don’t we have the right to have a day off for ourselves once a week?” A good observation and fair call by my Filipino friend. Another said: “If the maid receives good treatment from the sponsor, she wouldn’t think of escaping even if she has her passport.” The story began when the Kuwaiti girl expressed her personal opinion on social media about the subject of granting Filipino maids weekly leave and the right to retain their passports. I believe the domestic worker is a KUWAIT: Kuwait’s shrimping season will kick off on August 1, expected to bring loads of the popular shellfish to local hardworking human who needs to communicate with fish markets. — File photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat friends on her day off and have a social life. She is an employee and not a slave or a prisoner. But it seems not everyone agrees on this. The lady’s comments in the deleted clip sparked out- rage on social media, with calls to make an apology and Don’t block the highway for fender benders likening her comments to those of “a slave owner”. The blogger tried to defend her opinion and told AFP by phone that the outcry was “unjustified” and did not IN MY VIEW require an apology. “All I said was that the employer is entitled to keep the servant’s passport, and that many Kuwaitis and Gulf nationals agree with me,” she said. I By Nawara Fattahova don’t know what is the exact interpretation of the term “many”, because I see this as a personal opinion. I am [email protected] very much a Kuwaiti and this is an insult and racist. When someone denies the basic social right of a human, then they do not recognize that this person - no rivers in Kuwait who experience minor car acci- from officers at the police station to fix their cars,” he said. matter what job they occupy - is not less than them and dents (often referred to as ‘fender benders’) often Sometimes the accident location is inside an urban has the same needs. Do the “many” employers who refuse Dblock thinking that they should not move their area so it will be resolved by the police station of this cars until the police arrive. The opposite is actually the area. But on highways, the area of jurisdiction might be to give the worker a day off and their passport enjoy any case. The interior ministry issued a decree recently for- confusing, as several districts can flank the road. “If the day off themselves, or not? I believe domestic workers bidding drivers involved in minor traffic accidents from road is between two or more areas, the police station in are no different than other employees with fixed working blocking the road waiting for a police patrol to arrive. charge will be the one on the right side of the accident. If hours. Having a worker in your house doesn’t mean you According to the decree, the motorists should go to the drivers are not sure, they can drive to the nearest are entitled to own her flesh and blood and treat her like a the police station if nobody is injured and if the vehicles police station, which will then direct them to the one in machine, because she is human as I am and you are and are not seriously damaged and can move. In case of charge,” explained Buslaib. not less. The working hours must not be more than eight death or injuries during the accident, or if the vehicles A traffic accident occurs every 10 minutes in Kuwait per day, plus a day off too weekly. If this does not please are seriously damaged, then the drivers should wait for on average and the majority of these are minor. To the sponsor, then they should depend on themselves and the police and ambulance. reduce the burden on traffic police and free up roads, clean their own houses. “The drivers can swap their driving licenses before authorities have now implemented the regulation that I hope people think twice before uttering racist and heading to the police station. They are free to take photos allows drivers to exchange details and then move to the reprehensible opinions that represent them only and not of their vehicles if they want, but it’s not obligatory. If the nearest police station to complete the necessary paper- drivers block the road over a minor accident, they will be work, pay fines and obtain the papers needed for insur- the entire society, especially those who defend the rights ticketed,” Head of the Media Security Department at ance and car repair. of poor workers. We have to improve their working and Interior Ministry Lt Col Nasser Buslaib told Kuwait Times. If the accident is serious or the vehicles are rendered living conditions because being far from their families is “At the police station, if the drivers have a dispute over immobile, the drivers need to call the emergency hotline already a suffering, so let’s not deprive them of their whose fault it was, they have to wait for the investigator. If 112, which is connected to other departments in charge human rights too. they don’t have a conflict, then they can just get a report including police, ambulance and the fire department. 4 Friday Local Friday, July 27, 2018 Families await the return of young sailors from the annual pearl diving expedition. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat By Faten Omar round 175 participants onboard 13 dhows returned to the shore yesterday to a warm welcome and effu- sive praise after the conclusion of the 30th annual Apearl diving expedition. The ceremony to mark the day of return, known as ‘Al-Quffal’, was held in the presence of HH the Amir’s representative and Minister of State for Na- tional Assembly Affairs Adel Al-Kharafi at the Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC) in Salmiya. Also present for the festivities was US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman. Al-Quffal day marked with festivities, heritage exhibition The ceremony began with a tour of a marine heritage ex- hibition, which included diving images and art and heritage collections. After the dhows arrived, the sailors displayed their harvest of pearls. The Al-Quffal day concluded with a flag cer- emony marking the end of the diving season. This annual tradition is considered a milestone for reviving Kuwaiti marine heritage and culture on the national, regional and international arenas. Kharafi praised the participation of young people in this journey despite its hardships and difficul- ties in very unstable and hot weather, pointing out this partic- ipation reflects the authenticity of the Kuwaiti youth and their sincere desire to preserve the heritage and past of their fore- fathers. Friday 5 Local Friday, July 27, 2018 Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Adel Al-Kharafi and US Ambassador to Kuwait Lawrence Silverman examine the harvest of pearls. Secretary General of KSSC Khalid Al-Foudari said “HH the Amir is the one who encourages us to continue - he cares, supports and orders the club to take part”. He praised the ef- fectiveness and historical significance of the trip, adding that Kuwait participated last year in diving trips in Bahrain. “We hope that GCC youth will participate in the 31st annual pearl diving trip next year,” he added. The diving trip began last Thursday with the “Dasha” cere- mony, in which the dhows left the club for Khairan, where there are abundant oysters, to take part in the actual diving process over the course of a week in the old traditional way. The trip was held in difficult weather conditions with high tem- peratures and humidity. KSSC has hosted the annual pearl diving trip for the last 30 years, and young sailors from Kuwait and other Gulf countries take part in this traditional activity. Under the leadership of experienced captains, the young men embark on a weeklong sea voyage where they anchor off Khairan and dive for pearls. Sailors take part in various Al-Quffal ceremonies. 6 Friday Local Friday, July 27, 2018 Local and expat groups work hand in hand to support cancer patients By Ben Garcia Mostly, we visit as volunteers to make them feel comfortable, give them some l-Sidra Center, a refuge for can- advice and some motivation and cer patients at the Kuwait Cancer “We care for everyone encouragement so they keep fighting.

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