E/CN.4/2000/16 page 39 3. Procedure for examining the files of persons detained in holding centres and conditions of expulsion 164. The period of detention in a holding centre may not exceed the “time strictly necessary” to arrange the departure of the foreigner. In addition, although the initial decision to place a person in a holding centre lies with the administrative authorities, the judiciary is informed after a period of 48 hours has elapsed and has sole power to authorize that person’s continued detention in a centre for an initial period, which initially may not exceed five days but may be extended by a further five days. Thus the maximum period of administrative detention in a holding centre in France is 12 days. 165. As regards the conditions of expulsion of “illegal” entrants, the practice of escorting them to the frontier in groups has been discontinued. In accordance with the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur, the French authorities guarantee respect for the dignity of persons deported and do not have recourse to procedures considered “degrading”. C. Kuwait 166. Following the visit by the Special Rapporteur to Kuwait in November 1996 (see E/CN.4/1997/71/Add.2), the Kuwaiti Government states that the following measures have been taken to apply the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur. 1. Cases of persons illegally resident in Kuwait 167. The Kuwaiti authorities have adopted Decree No. 58 of 1996 to establish a commission responsible for dealing with the problem of foreigners whose presence in the country is undocumented. This decree is the best illustration of the determination of the Kuwaiti Government to provide a definitive solution to this problem. In accordance with the recommendations of the Commission, a number of undocumented foreigners in the country, and in particular the children of martyrs - in recognition of the sacrifice accepted by their parents and the children of Kuwaiti widows who were married to persons of unknown nationality, have, in the light of their peculiar circumstances and recognized standards in that field, been granted Kuwaiti nationality. The Commission is at present working unremittingly to obtain Kuwaiti nationality for all persons entitled to it under the law. 2. Creation of an agency for the recruitment and placement of foreign skilled and unskilled labour 168. A directorate for domestic staff has been established in the Ministry of the Interior. Its principal tasks consist of enforcing the provisions and rules laid down in the legislation on the organization of recruitment agencies for domestic workers and to receive applications for work permits from recruitment agencies for foreign domestic workers. It is also empowered to watch for breaches of the law, to prepare reports on agencies and individual workers who breach the law and where necessary turn them over to the competent authorities for the adoption of appropriate measures.