Torture complaint being probed;
Indian workers maltreated: Embassy

Arab Times, Monday, May 22, 2006
By Ahmad Al-Shimmari - Special to the Arab Times

KUWAIT CITY : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting upon a complaint filed by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait that 60 of its nationals had allegedly been tortured physically and mentally by an unidentified company has requested the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to open investigations into these allegations. The embassy letter also said the workers had not been paid their monthly salaries, forced to work extra hours without pay and deprived of medical facilities.

A memorandum sent by the Foreign Ministry to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor also highlighted that a group of Indian workers had earlier demonstrated in front of their mission and submitted a written complaint stating how they had been maltreated by the company management and denied their rights.

Meanwhile, knowledgeable sources said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has written to the Assistant Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry to complain transactions completed by the Immigration Department carry forged stamps. The letter also stated that the documents are related to visa extensions and the shape of the stamps on the documents look unfamiliar. In addition to that the name of the employee and the date of extension are not clear.