Taking the Plunge

Assembly accepts Funerals, anger Heat fight back resignations of as Turkey mourns to secure five lawmakers9 mine10 workers Eastern43 final spot Max 39º Min 22º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16167- Friday, May 16, 2014 Taking the plunge SEE PAGES 6 & 7 Local FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014 Local Spotlight Lebanon eyes tourism boost Flesh traders Gulf ‘ends unofficial ban’ BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia and other Gulf said. “As it was not an official ban, I Lebanon, in 2010 it was 2.3 million, in governments have lifted an unofficial would say that it’s a non-official green 2013 we were at 1.3 million. But now I ban on travel to Lebanon, boosting light.” would say that they are coming back prospects for the summer tourism sea- Since 2012, Gulf states whose citizens slowly, the planes are full, hotels are son, Lebanon’s tourism minister told used to flock to Lebanon during the coming up to 60-70 percent, whereas at AFP yesterday. “There is an implicit nor- summer months have warned their the same time last year they were at 30- By Muna Al-Fuzai malisation,” Michel Pharaon said. “I’m nationals to avoid the country because 35 percent,” he said. “I would say I’m not putting the words in the mouths of of security concerns. Pharaon said there optimistic, if I have to say what’s in my any Saudi officials, but I can tell you that were already signs of improvement, heart. But in Lebanon, we always have with our meetings, implicitly, yes, if after a nosedive in visitors last year. to be cautious, so I’ll say I’m cautiously there was a ban, today it is lifted,” he “When you look at the visitors to optimistic for this season.” [email protected] very time the Ministry of Interior (MoI) launches Ecampaigns against violators of residency laws, they mostly arrest Asian expatriates who are involved in prostitution. Most of the people arrested for practicing prostitution are called flesh traders. The police’s job is to arrest these people and deport them back home. They may spend some time in prison before deportation. Now this is fine. It is normal. But I wonder why the MoI is not doing more to track gangs, because just sending these people back home is not enough. They can always come back with new passports under different names. Digging to the root of the prob- lem is what we need to do and I know this is not a one- man show. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs should be involved in these campaigns too for many reasons. I wonder until the prostitution gang is arrested, how many men and women are being harmed and possibly infected with diseases and have possibly transferred those diseases to their spouses/partners? Second, don’t we need to know how these women were involved in prostitution in the first place? Were they forced into these acts? Was there any force against them? Were they abused in any way? Third, do they need help before going back home because if these ladies are run- away maids, how do we compensate them emotionally? Finally, why did they run away and how did these gangs find them? It requires serious work to express our caring. Every time I read about those who are labeled flesh traders, I hate the title and keep thinking that we are not doing enough to stop this ugly phenomenon. The fact that these women ran away from the hell of their sponsor or a boss or a husband doesn’t mean they should fall into the hell of prostitution. That is why more efforts are need- ed. We need to make laws easier for married working men to bring their wives here so they will not have to become clients of prostitution gangs and make the demand for flesh traders higher. The MoI is one arm, and we are the second. A denuded tree is silhouetted against the cloudy sky. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Local FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014 Serving with a smile Filipino hospitality staff dominate the ‘frontline’ in Kuwait By Ben Garcia emuel Morata and Janice Virtucio work as waiter and Jhostess respectively in one of the biggest restaurants in the Avenues mall. Janice leads every customer to their reserved table before Jemuel takes over to get their orders. “We are called ‘frontliners’ because the moment a customer enters our restaurant, we greet them with a smile and show our eagerness to serve. We show real enthusiasm regardless of who they are,” Janice mentioned, whose job is also known as customer relations officer. “The first impression will make them happy and comfortable. It will leave a mark on their visit, so the customers will talk to us and will trust us as their servers. We usually introduce ourselves by our first name and we make them feel at home,” Janice told Kuwait Times. Filipinos in Kuwait dominate hospitality industry jobs. According to figures provided by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait as of Dec 31, 2013, around 18,000 to 20,000 Filipinos hold the most demanding jobs in the hotel and restaurant industry. There are Egyptians, Indians, Indonesians and many other nationalities too, but Filipinos even out- number Indians in hospitality industry jobs. Hospitality industry jobs include waiters, cooks, housekeepers, baristas and higher-level jobs including hotel and restaurant managers, food and beverage managers, executive chefs and many more. According to Philippine Labor Attache to Kuwait Cesar Chavez, the continuing trust and confidence of many employers with Filipino workers reflects the number of jobs reserved for Filipinos. “The job orders we receive almost every day are great. Hiring of Filipino hospitality staff continues and we believe it will remain so in the coming years as Kuwait’s economy flourishes and continues to show positive mangers,” Jemuel added. Being one of the frontliners, Jemuel faces outcomes,” Chavez said. And since majority of the workers in the hos- customer with complete confidence. “I talk to customers like I have pitality industry are Filipinos, Friday Times spoke to two Filipinos on met them before - no nervousness or anything like that. My uniform is the ‘frontline’ about their experiences. neatly pressed and I wear good perfume too,” he quipped. One of the usual issues he faces as waiter is the language barrier. On a mission “Most of our customers speak English, but some of them only want to Restaurants and hotels want return business, so providing good speak Arabic, so we are try our best to communicate with them even food and excellent service is not a duty, but a mission of everybody in in broken Arabic. But if they want an explanation of something, it’s the team. “In our restaurant, guests love to be seated in a specific really hard for me,” he admitted. place - they want to be at a table where they can be seen by everyone. Patience is also tested. “There are many customers who don’t want Problems usually arise if they insist to be seated in a place occupied by to wait. Even if they are just seated, they want their food to be deliv- other customers. But we offer a solution by telling them to wait for ered instantly. These are issues we face every day. Rarely do I get com- another hour or two until the table is vacated. Most customers will plaints about the food. They like our food here,” he said. reserve the seat and wait,” said Jemuel. Jemuel’s service will be recognized by a good customer with a tip. There are also customers who feel they have bought the whole “The tip for us is personal (to whoever is serving customers), since the restaurant including the staff. “We encounter such customers almost extra money will only come if a customer is satisfied with the service I every day but we are trained to handle such cases. We keep our com- provide. If the service is not satisfactory, customers will not leave a sin- posure and serve them as our guests,” Janice said. gle fil,” he said. The hostess hands over diners to the assigned waiter or waitress Just like other sectors, the hospitality industry continues to grow in and Jemuel’s job begins. All the customers seated at his assigned this small but wealthy country, as restaurant-hopping in a major pas- table will be his masters. “I immediately welcome them and give them time here due to the lack of nightlife. the menu. The guests are under my responsibility for the duration of their stay. I handle customer complaints too, but if I can’t, I call my Local FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014 6 Accident leads to disability, stronger willpower Taking theBy Nawara Fattahova plunge car accident changed his life but it did not stop him from fulfilling his dreams and more importantly taught him how to overcome challenges. Faisal Al-Musawi, 28, had a car accident that left himA with a permanent disability. Since that fatal day, Musawi has been in a wheelchair – a development in his life that he says has made him stronger and more determined to carry Kuwait’s name internationally. Five years ago, Musawi took up diving, and now has become the world’s sole diver with a disability and five certificates. Musawi started diving in 2009 with the Kuwait Diving Team as the only disabled mem- ber. “Before the accident, I had a phobia of water. After my accident, I lost the fear and I developed a stronger will.

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