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TOKAI Movie Banned in Kuwait

Local movie maker Abdulrahman Alaskar emailed me saying he just found out his short movie titled TOKAI just got banned by the Ministry of Information from being screened at the Kuwait International Film Retreat that’s being held tomorrow. They haven’t given him any reason but if you search YouTube for “tokai kuwait” you can find and watch the movie (it’s in two parts). Once you watch the movie you can kind of develop your own theory on what their reasons for banning it might be. I would have embedded the videos or links in this post but I got worried if I did that then the MOI might ban my blog as well. Here is the synopsis for the movie:

TOKAI (street cleaner) is a short documentary that offers a glimpse into the lives of thousands of street cleaners who sweep the streets of oil rich Kuwait. In a country of abundance and wealth, these men earn menial salaries, as low as $50 a month and eventually regress into the forgotten inhabitants of the Middle East.

It’s a sensitive topic that’s for sure but do you think it merits a ban? I hope it all turns out to be just a misunderstanding.

Update: The Kuwait Film Retreat will still screen all banned films at the Hilton Hotel in Mangaf on Friday during the day. The Kuwait Film Retreat supports Kuwaiti filmmakers and will keep supporting them no matter what obstacles arise.

109 replies on “TOKAI Movie Banned in Kuwait”

I watched through both parts… unfortunately yes… these things are happening in Kuwait – and I urge that everybody strives to put an end to the misery of those people, as evidently their living condition is inhumane.

However, there are a few things I would like to point out not as negative criticism but positive.

1- If his salary is KD 20 or KD 18 – and a cigarette packet costs around 500fils (I’m not a smoker – so correct me if I am wrong), how can he afford to smoke 1 packet per day? If the street cleaner consumes 30 packets per month thats KD 15 – which will bring him to KD 3 – 5 savings per month… the figures are just not making sense to me….

2- If you notice, in general, maybe due to their illiteracy / education – as he was washing the basin the tap was running continuously for nothing… this is a waste and not a depiction that the filmmaker should portray to the audience. … thisprojects that these workers are careless ..

:)how many cigs are there in one packet? 10? or 20? so then again if its 20 cigs that will be 50 x 20 = 1kd x 30days = 30kd/month 🙂

They banned it because it makes them very uncomfortable when anything reminds them of how tough it is for over a million and a half people here in kuwait. Keep in mind,if they had a properly monitored minimum wage system and proper salaries and workers rights etc, their fake profits would go down by around 60% which of course they dont want so instead they dump the workers in horrid camps or in kheitan where nobody can see them (out of sight,out of mind)and after a few years when the workers are tired and weary,they deport them and get new fresh ones…utterly disgusting if you ask me, and bordering on modern day slavery, since even though the workers come of their own free will, thats only because the other option is starvation for them and their families

Actually it’s not entirely their choice. They come here and are promised much higher salaries but by the time they find out it’s less than 1 kd a day it’s too late for them to go back, their passports are taken and they don’t have any other way to go back. This is why Kuwait is so high on the human traficking list and most people will probably justify it with “why don’t they leave it’s our country” because they are sheltered and ignorant.

If you complain the workers aren’t paid to a cleaning company the only response is “who told you, he’s not supposed to tell you” btw.

bazaar.. i agree its a total disgrace… and its sad what’s happening to them.. many are lured in thinking that they will achieve they wealth by coming through the modern day monsters that we call manpower agencies today…. the poor guy spent $4000 – if he doesnt spend a single KD throughout his tenure he will need around 7 years to make up that money!

“Inhumane” was also banned. a short film talking about transsexuals in Kuwait living in fear after passing a law that criminalizes their medically proven disorder.

my question is: how do people in a so-called “democratic/developed” country allow a bunch of guys at the MOI to dictate what they are allowed or not allowed to watch? am I the only one insulted by censorship?

This is just a Great Movie.
It Takes out all the Living Condition of people. How to Maintain themselves with Low Salary.

I think 2 years ago, there was a huge Hartal/protest in Jleeb by these Low waged workers for better Facilities and it shook the Kuwait and Media.
Many Were Send to Bangladesh forcefully. Most of them landed in Bangladesh Airport with with on sandal,Lungi(their traditional dress) and tattered Shirt.
The Reason they Commit Themselves to Crime is because of Bad Habitat and lack of Facilities.

Say what… I have to watch the full videos to prove that this thing is everywhere. Wallah my heart aches for these people. Not only to these street cleaners but for all asian workers who came here thinking that they will have a better future not being aware only to be robbed of their human rights. And yet lots of the citizens not only here in Kuwait see’s asian like rugs well infact without them they will be nothing…No Kuwaitis nor Saudis will be seen cleaning public toilets, sweeping the streets of their own countries. Til now i can’t understand why housemaids are being maltreated very badly…There are times when i go to public toilets, i can see those cleaners who are so exhausted and sometimes found them sleeping under the lavatory. They said they are forced to work more than 12 hours and have not enough food and their salaries are mostly delayed.

My own thoughts why this movie was not approved its because they still want to hide the truth of inhumane treatment here where it is already visibly obvious how some people only thinks of money to their own self satisfaction.

Im so touched by what you said :)I feel the same way 🙁
and even though i didnt watch the movie, i believe this cud be one of the main reason, i was thinking the same thing after reading Mark’s post.

i agree with every word you said… it hurts me soo much when i have to see them every day and know how they live and what they have been promised an not get an inch of what they were told.. and not one person in kuwait can handle what they do everyday.. its so tough.. and they all have families to look after. Really our labor workers and domestic workers here in kuwait deserve so much more. Really breaks my heart.. I wish them such a better life. My respect to them is so high.. without all these street cleaners, builders, nannies, drivers, tea boys, u name it the list goes on and on… We simply can not live with out them we depend on what they do so much.. Therefore give them better living conditions, speak to them respectfully.. treat them how you want to be treated… it is so unfair for them.. just hope more people can realize this

not to be harsh , but bare with me .
would he be better off home? or working here in kuwait? i think you know the answer.heck ,even most expat would too.

as for the banning thing, i believe they ought to show what is best interest for humanity. admitting the problem is the 1st step to solve the dilemma.

There’s no freedom , Only democracy.

p.s.
Smooth move mark

Yes dude he would be better off home, that’s why he goes there as soon as he can… U really think cleaning other peoples shit and be paid peanuts can be anybody’s dream ?

He also says he has a small plot of land. If he wasn’t better of at home, how did he put together the $4000 to get to Kuwait? He probably leveraged it against his land, thinking he would have enough to pay the monthly debt payment AND make a better profit here. It is probably more likely that he was making a better profit before coming here.

so.. are you saying that if you worked somewhere else, and got slapped around by locals, spit on, cleaned up their shit, their country, in 55*C, for peanuts!!!!! are you telling me thats fine with you? put yourself in their seats before you talk.. not everyone is born rich my friend..

It is very easy for everyone to say that he would be better home…. but the persons who say this, don’t have any idea about the reality…

Dear most of the low paid workers come by mortgaging there property or by selling whatever they have, they can’t just go back, they think about there family, their own future…

I can’t undertand, why the influential people support this poor people atleast BY FORCING THE COMPANIES TO PAY THE SALARY ON TIME….

there are many who don’t get salaries for months.. salaries as low as KD 20 – 40

This is not a convincing argument, because frankly, they come here for a better life and are exploited. We’re not doing them any favors, stop pretending that this is a humanitarian effort. Even if they’d make less, there’s no excuse as to why they’re not being paid enough here. Kuwait can certainly afford it.

Thank you D.

I was one of the directors on the film. I appreciate you taking the time to watch the film and for all your comments. As can be seen a great deal of work still needs to be done to push for awareness on the issue.

If you have ideas on what more can be done (film or otherwise) please let me know.

You can do it!!!

V

For all the ppl who complain that their heart bleeds for asian workers and such, should put their money where their mouth is and not employ 5adamas who work for 60KD and who have their passports confiscated. Unless you do not rely on domestic help and you don’t feed the system then you should not complain.
Oh yeah and your mother’s 5adama doesn’t count as not having a 5adama.

Trust me, 60KD as a salary would be from a kind employer.. some maids get around 40KD. Besides, having maids and paying them that 60 and confiscating their passports is part of the agreement. If they didn’t like this system, they shouldn’t have signed up for it. Other countries might give them better rights. Why don’t they go there?

Actually its NOT part of the agreement. In their countries they signed contracts telling them they will be working as secretaries and such, for at least double the salary they are getting now. Once they reach Kuwait whatever they had signed in their country gets ripped up and they are faced with whatever is given to them. Its not like they can throw down the 100KD+ ticket back home. They already borrowed much more than that to come to Kuwait to work.

@Summer

It’s part of the agreement – except they aren’t told. The agencies tell them they’ll get paid something like 300 KD. When they find out it’s nothing close to that of course they try to go back, why do you think their passport is taken?

@Chirp
@Fa

So both of you guys are saying that all the maids in Kuwait are brought hear without prior knowledge that they will be working as maids and/or without knowing the salary they are going to get??

@Summer
So all the maids that are in the embassies beaten up and burnt and tortured are contractually obligated to take that? Ever tried taking a poll of the expats who actually have their passports?

Other countries (that they can’t get to) giving them better rights is not the focus. Another country treating them better or worse does not change how badly they are treated here.

hamdillah

im kuwaiti and im living without a driver or maid in my entire life ,

why torture them and pay them money that i earned for some silly jobs that i and my family can do ?? and what do i get in return .. complaints .
teaching this screwed up generation to work is sadly a rare thing today 🙁

I live with my wife and I’m Kuwaiti, I don’t have maids or a driver. I know several families that pay their maids very well, and maids that are happy with the family and have been with them for decades and ended up bringing their own family to Kuwait to live with them.

I don’t have a live-in maid, I pay a woman KD 40 a month to come twice a week for 1 hour each time. That is an hourly rate of KD 5, which if it was a person working 5 days a week, 8 hrs every day, would be a monthly salary of KD 640.
Don’t be racist and assume all of us act that way. And my parent’s ‘khadama’ as you like to put it is well paid, and I would be bitch slapped if I asked her to cook and clean for me also.

I don’t have a live-in maid, I pay a woman KD 40 a month to come twice a week for 1 hour each time. That is an hourly rate of KD 5, which if it was a person working 5 days a week, 8 hrs every day, would be a monthly salary of KD 640.
Don’t be racist and assume all of us act that way. And my parent’s ‘khadama’ as you like to put it is well paid, and I would be bitch slapped if I asked her to cook and clean for me also.

The film is called a street cleaner while it tells the story of a company cleaner (mall or something…)

ill run and watch it on youtube before they make the guy remove it or maybe ban youtube from the country all together!

I guess he wasted his time documenting something useful meaningful and real

what he should have done is construct a disco and have half a dozen belly dancers clapping and someone pretending to be a woman in the middle… those things always get approved for spectators… wallah 7ala!

The fact that this movie was banned is the best promotion it can get. In fact, the official poster should mention that….”applauded by critics, banned by MOI”. At first not a single fudge was given, now I really wanna see it. Thanks for free promotion MOI, you’re the best!

So let them ban it, its not like people don’t know what’s happening. Plus maybe they banned it coz he said its not worth it working here. Which I agree he should be poor ib his country with his family not poor in a strange country

Isnt this on the same lines of TOKAI (2006/7) by Rupantor from Bangladesh? The original TOKAI (which means Street Urchin in Bangla) was shot on location in Dhaka and other parts of B’desh depicting a country in tatters and its poverty ridden populace not caring for anything except a square meal a day!

hi,

can you please send me adullrahman alaskar’s info contact.. i cave a big event coming up and i can show his film to kuwait and international audiance

thank you

Good News to All, The Kuwait Film Retreat will still screen all banned films at the Hilton Hotel in Mangaf on Friday during the day. The Kuwait Film Retreat supports Kuwaiti filmmakers and will keep supporting them no matter what obstacles arise.

Great work.
but think please before judging, why do Bengali’s still want to come while they KNOW everything about working in GCC countries. They have agreement with Italy to go and work there as well, with the same amount of salaries due to an agreement between Italy and Bengladish. If you ever been to Rome, go to Piazza Navona, or Piazza Della Spagna and you can see them selling small toys and stuff for the kids and sometime flowers. What I mean, due to their poverty and cheap currency, a max of 50 K.D/month is an acceptable salary in my point of view provided lodging. Ofcourse, companies are greedy and they do have HUGE mistakes, but not all the blame goes on them. thats my point.

thanks.

I think You missed the part when the person says that he Suggest his Family or Relative not to Come In Kuwait.
One of them Came 9 years ago still he is paid the Same Salary.
They arent leaving Kuwait Because, how much they Spent to Come, they at least have to earn that Much Amount as Profit.
and yeah i think No More Bangladeshis are Coming to Kuwait now.

This Issue is not Nlie with Bangladeshi its with Most Ex-pats But Majority Bangladeshi.

You’re right, I think we can also blame the people who want to bury the issue and make silly excuses like “They have it better here than in their country”.

Tomorrow’s film retreat isn’t for such movies. Tokai is more like a documentary or a TV reportage which we see usually on talk shows.

Just a quick note – Vachan Sharma and Abeer Tebawi put most of their knowhow and expertise into it. Much of the credit for this movie should go to them, but as with many things in Kuwait, it gets tagged to one name, the local.

@summer
Do you think an uneducated, illiterate 25 year old young woman would have a say in agreeing or disagreeing with a written contract in Arabic? I had a 5adama 3 years ago (yes i admit it and never had one in 3 years and will never get another one) she came to kuwait thinking she’s going to be a florist making 150KD a month, that’s what those sleazy offices tell them, thats how they get them to loan 300KD for all the expenses they’re going to spend on tickets, food and bureaucratic fees. They actually think that in 3 months they’re pay it back make tons of money the following year then go back home all happy and smiley. Stop being naive and be informed about where and how these domestic workers are recruited from.

This i happening from long time now !! no one cares about the poor street cleaners !! but i have great respect for them and when ever i encounter any S.C i give him 1 Kd each time ! i wish i could give more ! but what about you all kuwaiti people you all are quite rich enough ! at least make their salary 100 Kd per month i really feel very pity on them ! 🙁 you kuwaiti people do not deserve 1000 KD, the poor Cleaners Deserve it !

Burhan, thanks for being so kind and generous. As you know in Islam, it is always better not to show off your alms or any good deeds, simply because you’re doing it for helping or supporting some people not to tell people what are you doing. Alot of people are giving away money for SC’s as well as others who seek help. And this matter has nothing to do with the 1000 KD, no one can shout at people on how they should spend their money or something. I would recommend if you can read about Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sumait the Humanitarian Muslim, reading about him will contradict with your idea about Kuwaiti’s for sure.

Cleaning companies as well as other companies are not playing a fair game for sure, I don’t decline that nor defend them. But, Street cleaners, specially the ones who are around traffic lights, are acting like if they’re cleaning and just trying to beg people waiting in their cars. Do you have any idea how much do they get per day? Have you heard about the gangs that they belong to? and how they distribute them around the areas ?

let’s be biased, both parties have huge mistakes, and are playing dirty game here. A lot of things need to be fixed in our country. Generalizing some cases won’t be fair, just like how you’ve judged us now 🙂

Government should Keep a Check how the Company Treats the Labors. Not giving Them KWD 1000 but at least a Good Salary and Proper Living Condition. The Worst Scenario comes When They do no get the Right to Speak. If a Labor is Treated Badly he is Not able to raise his voice because he knows no use of Speaking Against Superpower of the Country who are Kuwaitis.

Yeah, They might Get Some money Due to Sympathy on the street. but it dosent Make them Rich and it is not a good source of Income. Lets say that is Bonus.

And I Think You have Wrong Idea about the Distribution of gangs and area by these SC.
They are not involved in such things. that is Total Different Thing.

And Another Topic in this video was about the Residency permit. Which is indeed a great Issue.

I think the Video Did not give you much Sense. You Should Yourself Go and Look at Their Poor Habitat.

I get where you’re coming from, some Kuwaities give them more than 5KD a day … there are good people stop biasing pointlessly.
There are however poor Kuwaities who desperately needed the 1000KD, and FYI, I know some Kuwaities who gave half of the money over to charity.

So ya, God bless you ‘good’ person.

@Burhan

Burhan means ‘evidence/proof’ in Arabic, and its evident that you can’t see the forrest for the trees my friend.

2 wrongs don’t make a right and blaming all Kuwaities and saying they don’t deserve to be sufficiently compensated in their own country because some foreigners are going through some injustice is harsh to say the least.

My heart bleeds for these downtrodden workers, and rest assured a LOT of Kuwaities try to help out whenever they can. Even ppl who don’t get said undeserved 1000 Kd salaries.

One of my good friends that is now in Afghanistan is friends with the guy that made this short film or if not one similar to it(also in Kuwait. He originally made this around the same time as the TOKAI (2006/7) by Rupantor from Bangladesh.

I can understand how hard it is for them, I came to this world with almost no money and my dad had to have two jobs just to get by (And I’m Kuwaity) it was still pretty hard even with all the comforts the government gives their citizens.
I know how borderline poverty is as where my mom comes from, I see people living in shacks under highways.
But what makes me sick is that sometimes they take how some citizens who overlook the fact that there ‘are’ Kuwaities who overlook the trash mindset that all Kuwaities are ‘Children of the Gods’ because of their wealth and help the less fortunate and yet those ‘poor’ people would decieve and steal from the same person and call them ‘nutjobs’ because they give them money to help them get by … they pretend to be working hard when they sense someone’s passing by and when no one’s around they just lay around (I saw it with my own eyes, haha I should’ve made an hour long film of the dude) …
I don’t care if they got an education or not, they’re still human beings … who are supposed to have a conscience … but then again, who am I to speak?.
I’m not defending them or Kuwaties for that matter, the world’s going to end anyway so we’ll just do our parts and let the Almighty be the judge.

So youmean. They Dont Do Work Most of the Time.
The Streets are cleaned on its own or by the 50km/hr wind which is Blowing Now a days ?
They work for 12 hours, they do their part of job and take rest.

@Sheikh Haha maybe its the wind blowing up everything to peachy cleanliness, its not that all of them don’t work bubba I see the workers infront of my building and they do the cleaning yea but there are a few bingos who just lay around and trick people into thinking they’re working day and night … hmm maybe I should take a video after all ;p

@Burhan: Yo! Why don’t you reply to all your fanmail up there first before agreeing with everyone dude?

I can characterize that you are a Racist person ! and WTF is “bingos” this shows your respect for the Bengali people ! hahaha what will you help the poor people ! first learn how to respect them !

+1 Burhan.
Nj If u cant Support the cause atleast dont give them such kind of Words.

At the end of the day, Your locality is being Cleaned by these cleaners whether you take videos or say that they rest whole day.

I really wonder, wether I shuld comment about this issue…And I seriously feel tat its nt so difficlt to improve their situation.

1st of all i congrats to the filmmaker its just very daring… what really disappointed me was mr. Abadi’s comments y3ni after watching the movie thats all u got to say |: his pack of cigarets, illiteracy level , n running tap ..

yes his salary might b 15KD but they do extra work to live like washing cars helping people n stuff..

bottom line this will never ever finish … Y ? cuz some people want it that way … and they are strong…. But Allah is Stronger inshallah there is a day for everyone…

aha so what do you think ! they are very happy in 20 KD ?? let me list out what all are their “Basic needs”!

1, 10 Kd (1,598 Rs) sent to Bangladesh for Family and kids !

2, 10 Kd/Month for Food “WTF” How do they Manage!

What about if they get ill ? what about Clothing and daily need items ?

ahhh i cant even think what to do with just a single lousy 20 Kd Bill in Hand !! i mean whats their Future ? they cant afford a Ticket to get meet their family back ! I feel they are living in Hell Every single day ! and tell me do you feel proud or good or something when a person older than you that is almost in his 40’s or 50’s washes your car just for 1 or 2 kd ??

It Feels Sad, when i see old age Men Washing Car for Living.

And Yeah, It is really a Good Thing By u Burhan to give Them Some Money.

burhan my comment was reply for mr. abadi when he said how he can smoke everyday a pack… my heart and feelings r with them… i know how hard is there life n i wish i can do something about it…

my friends, do not forget there are philantrhopists and humanitarians in kuwait (like Burhan) who give them money, so 20KD is not all they make a month, but again, its not a reliable source of income.

heres a thought, if u worry to give them money, give them something they can use. clothing, food, shoes, a blanket. donations do not have to be monetary.

i was ordering out at a restaurant once, i dont drink coke but the guy gave it to me, so i bundled it with a donation, and gave it to the street cleaner.

not everything is about money.

I usually read this blog every now and then but I do not usually comment. However, after reading this topic, I had to comment and say to the person that did this movie what a brave man and may God bless you. Seriously. Not only because it was a brave thing to do but also because it was a great initiative. May your efforts be rewarded.

Thanks all

As a Co-Director of “Tokai (Street Cleaner)” I wanted to thank for your time & support. It means a great deal to us. Please be respectful to each other views – even if you don’t agree with one another. Spread the word and help those who have no voice. YOU CAN DO IT!!! – Vachan

On Tokai – the MOMI (ministry of misinformation) strikes again!

Say doesn’t Tokai sound very Japanese?! What can I say, Nippon is flavour of the month.
Y’all enjoy now

Im a US citizen and have been based in here in Kuwait for about 5 years. I think the only way this problem can be solved is if there is active protocol monitored by the govt and a solid plan in place to eradicate the visa trade business. It is thriving in kuwait and it is the main cause of this societal curse.

Modern day slavery at its finest.

I have lived in 3rd world countries and how these people get $4000 is by borrowing from a lot of family members. They hope that the money promised to them would help pay for their loan and raise their families. Is it better than home? I doubt it, as again they never get the money they are promised. 20kd of which half they send home! How do u eat for 10kd a month? Haram! Even Kuwaiti’s get crazy staying here in the summer! Imagine working 5 years and 9 years straight! How will these poor people ever get home? Haram haram haram!

If you have liked watching Tokai that much you may also want to check out Kesang Tseten’s documentary on “Saving Dolma”, and “a Maid in Kuwait.”

Didn’t there use to be “a Maids Day celebration in Kuwait in a similar vein as International Women’s Day? If not, now is as good a time as any to have an annual National Maids day celebration, to commemorate the special services rendered by maids to this nation.

We have a saying that says if you didn’t steal, you have nothing to worry about.

The fact that it was banned is already an admission by our government that they are doing something wrong.

The fact that movies/books (even programs like skype!) are still being banned and censored here shows how little the government thinks of their people, and how (for the most part) people are accepted this belittling treatment.

during ramadan there was a great show that aired on MBC, 5awa6r or something like that, saudi host, anyhoo, it compared the arab world to Japan (post-crisis)

I suggest everyone google it, find the episode on youtube where he spoke of the cleaners in Japan, actually referred to as engineers.

if everyone in Kuwait did their part, we would not need street cleaners. i go to Marina mall and see a youth drop a tissue on an escalator, and theres a bin right up there.

also, gratitude, people sometimes really abuse cleaners and make them feel less than human. as this video portrays, they have their lives, families, loved ones as well.

u go to a restaurant, a family is eating and the child drops something on the floor, they are actually chastised if they attempt to pick it up, having the parent tell them, and i quote “the maid will get it”, meaning the people working in the restaurant. how often have you seen that?

one last thing, as im planning to use this material for a post of my own later, we had a wonderful arabic teacher back in school here, she would tell the girls not to call their maids “5adama” (servant) and call them “morabeya” (nanny).

Words make a difference.

how can you call a maid a nanny? maids and nannys have 2 different jobs there are also butlers that serve you, they are servants. If they dont want to be called that then they can find a better occupation. I believe that only a nanny should be called a nanny

ok this is now officially the “I love Kuwait but hate it but love it blog “first of all this is all BS . no one who is in Kuwait legally is making 50 Dollars a month full stop . if you believe this then you are an idiot . stop being naive and start learning something about these street sweepers whom many are actually here illegally . they hang out where they can make eye contact with kuwaiti’s “this is their target , anyone wearing a ghutra ” and mope around looking pathetic trying to gain the sympathy of the “Ghutra wearer” till get called over and handed some money . these guys pull in no less than 10 KD a day , heck some days they might get 10 kd a pop . I’ve seen it and i know what im talking about . if your not a “ghutra guy “then you don’t know what I’m talking about . These guys will pose like legitimate street sweepers and tell you as many sob stories as you like , but in reality if you look carefully they don’t really have a proper uniform ” over alls ” and don’t really seem to be doing any real work . you wont see any crew members near buy “that would just reduce the take ” so they tend to be loners . now the real sad story is the Legitimate street cleaners that don’t get paid their salaries for months on end , now that is something to take notice of .

in any case I’m all for minimum wage in Kuwait and I think it should be set at 100 KD for Laborers plus accommodation and food. for house maids I think that since they live for free , eat for free , and really don’t need to pay for anything I think that 70 KD starting salary with 5 KD increase per year is fair plus a ticket every year or the cash equivalent .

those are my two cents . peace

Mr.Corrector !! Nice BS ! XD i literally laughed at your joke and i shared it with my friends too ! you made my Day ! XD

Bangladesh is not the shithole which it is made out to be every now and again. In terms of its intellectual capital and workforce competitiveness, it bypasses the GCC states by a long shot. Even on most public health and certain macroeconomic indicators it has overtaken its next door giant of a neighbor – India.
Make no mistake in another 10 years Bangladesh will be a hotbed of entrepreneurial talent and will attract more foreign direct investment than all of the Middle East put together. So beware, it is a sleeping tiger.
Just leave them be!

Listen up all dont act sensitive and give me drama, most of them get a very good money just by saying salam 3laykom to ppl in streets. Why are they in kuwait all this time and willing to come and stay more and did they come in the first place and still have friends and families that are willing too, since they know how it is here??? They earn and live much better than they dreamed of in this country, no body forced them to come, el7emdela 3la el ne3ma in this country. I’de never be touched by this and I’de think about my country and use my brain first. Look at all those freaking foreigners coming and eating from our country then sayin crap about it!! searingly, get the hell back to ur country, cause we r not dying for you, YOU ARE.

there must be a reason this country wants and has foreigners. if it did not, the government would not give visas and attract us. so no need to be so arrogant, just take it easy.

Squats, that is just uncalled for, why is it when anyone points out the hardships and toils of people working hard in kuwait, doing jobs that NO national would do, ur first opinion is get the hell out.

“all those freaking foreigners coming and eating from our country”, you are deluded my friend, they dont eat for free, they do the jobs that you do not and cannot do.

and to think you are supposedly muslim,
لا يؤمن احدكم حتى يحب لأخيه ما يحب لنفسه

if we had less people in this world with that mentality such as yours, it would be a much better place.

It will take time to change the law or sort out situation of the poor cleaners. However, in the meantime all of you can help. I always have few KD change in my car and if I see some of them cleaning streets, I give them money. I saw quite a few people doing it as well. I believe 20 -30 KD does not make a major difference to a monthly expenditures of most of you, but is a major help to this poor guys. Think about it.

I believe that this guy is an idiot.. he smokes a pack or marlboro a day.. marlboro costs 500 fils per pack.. which means 15-15.500kd per month for ciggs. this also means he will only have 2.500-3kd to buy clothes and other expenses. he himself mentioned that he’s a street cleaner because he is not educated, isn’t that his fault? He also mentioned that he spent his life playing and enjoying himself, he only realized that he has to work when he was 30, doesn’t that show us that it was his fault that he chose t play around, it was his fault that he did not educate himself, and it is his fault that he is a street cleaner. The only thing that is not fair is that they are promised a certain salary, and they get less. Other than that everything else is there fault. They planned their lives. They can’t get away with it saying allah made me the way i am. Allah knows the future, but it is you who made yourself!

Not everyone is Kuwaiti with free education, if he was born into a por family he probably couldn’t afford it – and then his kids are born poor and can’t afford it either and same thing happens to them. They get stuck in a cycle, is it his fault for being born poor?

I did not feel like reading all the comments but there is something I want to say. In the end there will always be the lower people who have to do these jobs. But what is disturbing is why cant they give them a clean place with a decent bathroom? a tv? a fridge? dont tell me they got all that. I mean something you yourself wouldn’t mind living in. That way they will feel appreciated, motivated, excited, and become physically and mentally healthy. Oh, and it wouldnt hurt to give them educational classes on their off times. Anything from literature, writing, religion, or even basic classes on manners and hygiene etc.

Hello, can please provide me with the filmmakers emails
We are working in an event about the marginal labor conditions in Kuwait and we will screen this film, it will be great to get them
To speak in the event

Hello Dana,

Thank you for the opportunity to screen the film. I’ve emailed you directly regarding the issue. Vachan

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