[Kuwait] Ban on expats over 60 will be scrapped

This week Kuwaiti authorities are expected to announce the end of a controversial ban on employing expatriates above 60 who hold no university degrees, Gulf News reports.

In early October, the Kuwaiti Legal Advice and Legislation Department reportedly invalidated the ban, issued in August 2020, saying it had no legal basis.

The department - a Cabinet affiliate - said that the ban had been issued by the PAM director-general without authorisation.

The board of the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) is expected to meet on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Al Salman to discuss the issue, Arabic daily newspaper Al Rai reported.

The PAM board is likely to approve revoking the decision banning those expats from renewing their work permits, the paper said, citing ‘well-informed sources.’

The sources referred to “signs of understanding” among the board members to annul the ban at their upcoming meeting and to issue directives to the competent agencies to reinstate pre-ban regulations in renewing work permits for this category of foreign workers.

Al Rai - citing the sources - said one new proposal up for discussion is to levy KD250 and health insurance as prerequisites for renewal. There was no immediate comment from the authorities.

Around 4,013 affected expatriates were forced out of the work market in Kuwait in the first six months of enforcing the decision, Al Qabas newspaper reported recently.

The ban went into effect earlier this year, it triggered an outcry among rights activists, who argued that it would affect thousands of expatriates and their families who were long-term Kuwait residents.

Critics said the restriction has also caused damage to many employers and destabilised the labour market by robbing it of experienced workers.

The ban was seen as an attempt to reduce the number of migrant workers who account for majority of Kuwait’s population.

In July, the PAM issued another decision allowing expatriates above the age of 60 to renew their residency permits by paying annual fees of KD2,000. This move also provoked a negative reaction and led to a campaign by activists demanding the cancellation of the restrictions.

The number of expats in Kuwait who hold no university degree is estimated at over 80,000.

Foreigners comprise nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s total 4.6 million population.

In recent months, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has sought to redress its demographic imbalance.

This week Kuwaiti authorities are expected to announce the end of a controversial ban on employing expatriates above 60 who hold no university degrees, Gulf News reports.

In early October, the Kuwaiti Legal Advice and Legislation Department reportedly invalidated the ban, issued in August 2020, saying it had no legal basis.

The department - a Cabinet affiliate - said that the ban had been issued by the PAM director-general without authorisation.

The board of the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) is expected to meet on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Al Salman to discuss the issue, Arabic daily newspaper Al Rai reported.

The PAM board is likely to approve revoking the decision banning those expats from renewing their work permits, the paper said, citing ‘well-informed sources.’

The sources referred to “signs of understanding” among the board members to annul the ban at their upcoming meeting and to issue directives to the competent agencies to reinstate pre-ban regulations in renewing work permits for this category of foreign workers.

Al Rai - citing the sources - said one new proposal up for discussion is to levy KD250 and health insurance as prerequisites for renewal. There was no immediate comment from the authorities.

Around 4,013 affected expatriates were forced out of the work market in Kuwait in the first six months of enforcing the decision, Al Qabas newspaper reported recently.

The ban went into effect earlier this year, it triggered an outcry among rights activists, who argued that it would affect thousands of expatriates and their families who were long-term Kuwait residents.

Critics said the restriction has also caused damage to many employers and destabilised the labour market by robbing it of experienced workers.

The ban was seen as an attempt to reduce the number of migrant workers who account for majority of Kuwait’s population.

In July, the PAM issued another decision allowing expatriates above the age of 60 to renew their residency permits by paying annual fees of KD2,000. This move also provoked a negative reaction and led to a campaign by activists demanding the cancellation of the restrictions.

The number of expats in Kuwait who hold no university degree is estimated at over 80,000.

Foreigners comprise nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s total 4.6 million population.

In recent months, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has sought to redress its demographic imbalance.