From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Aug 14 2008 - 08:38:53 EDT
Kuwait slaps ban on Ethiopians in HIV scare by Dylan Bowman on Wednesday,
13 August 2008
*Kuwait has slapped a ban on Ethiopians entering the Gulf state after three
maids from the east African country tested positive for HIV.*
Authorities from Monday stopped issuing all types of visas to Ethiopian
nationals due to concerns over the medical testing process Ethiopians
undergo prior to arriving in Kuwait, Kuwaiti daily Arab Times reported,
citing the head of a legal firm that assists distressed workers.
Hashem Majed, managing director of Al-Huqooq International Co, called for a
full investigation into the incident, but criticised the blanket ban as
"collective punishment" and predicted it will create a serious vacuum in the
domestic sector.
"The Kuwaiti embassy should conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain
whether any ill-practices were involved in the matter," Majed was quoted as
saying.
"In the run-up to Ramadan, the demand for domestic helpers sees a rise. The
government should now make alternate arrangements to overcome the shortage
of workers," he added.
According to Majed, there are around 14,000 Ethiopians in Kuwait, many of
whom work in the domestic sector.
The ban follows the deportation earlier this month of around 1,000
Bangladeshis following violent protests over pay and conditions.
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