Kuwait: Migrant workers on US military bases unable to change jobs, entrapped in recruitment fee debt & have their passports withheld; incl. cos. comments
A joint investigation by the Washington Post and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists into the working conditions of migrant workers from South Asia on US military bases in Kuwait and other Gulf countries revealed commonplace labour abuse. These workers are mainly supplied to American military bases’ service providers, Vectrus and Amentum, by regional subcontractors – Kuwait Resources House, Tamimi Global and Kuwait and Gulf Link Holding.
The investigation reveals the workers were not able to change jobs because they are not being issued documents needed for discharge, paid high recruitment fees reaching up to USD6,000 which they had to take out loans to afford, are afraid to speak up due to fear of retaliation, and even faced physical abuse. One worker subcontracted to Amentum reported being refused leave to go back to their home country for a life saving surgery. These abuses are outlawed in the United States. When the Washington Post reached out the government for a comment the Defense Department spokesperson said they have a zero tolerance to “trafficking in persons”.
The Washington Post also reached out to the three regional suppliers, and Vectrus and Amentum. Comments can be read in full in the articles below. Amentum and Kuwait & Gulf Link Holding did not respond.
The Department of Defense promotes the U.S. government’s zero tolerance policy on trafficking in persons...The Department continues to work diligently on combating human trafficking because these activities violate human rights and harm our national security mission.Nicole Schwegman, Defense Department spokesperson after being presented with the workers’ accounts.
At Vectrus, we value all people and treat them with dignity and respect. We follow all United States labor laws, the laws in the countries where we operate, and demand our subcontractors do the same.Mike Smith, Vectrus spokesman
Tamimi has recruitment procedures and does not take money from staff. We do not deny that there are inappropriate recruitment procedures in the region and that is why we have to be vigilant, but we do everything we can to avoid our staff being caught by them.Misfer al-Malki, manager of Tamimi’s human resources and administration department
We would like to assure you that all the allegations you stated in your email are incorrect.Kuwait Resources House
The below article from NBC News also refers to similar, older cases of migrant workers employed by contractors deploying to US Army bases in Afghanistan experiencing labour violations. Triple Canopy and Vectrus have each faced lawsuits over the treatment of migrant workers on bases in Afghanistan, while NBC reports that Aegis’ parent company GardaWorld stated a migrant worker employed by Aegis who alleges human trafficking “misunderstood his contract”.