Country Summary Kuwait

"Hundreds of stateless people in Kuwait, known as Bidun, took to the streets in early 2011 demanding citizenship and other rights. The government violently dispersed the protests, but later promised to restore to the Bidun social benefits, including government-issued documentation and free education and health care. However, Bidun claims to Kuwaiti citizenship remained unresolved. Kuwaiti authorities continued to restrict free expression, increasing internet surveillance and arresting individuals for criticizing the government. Migrant workers in Kuwait, who comprise 80 percent of the country’s workforce, continued to face exploitation and abuse under the sponsorship system. Although Minister of Labor Mohammad al-‘Afasi announced that the government would abolish the sponsorship system in February 2011, the government made no major sponsorship reforms during the year."