COVID-19: Kuwait set to revamp labour market rules due to pandemic

Cairo: Kuwait is poised to take steps to reorganise its labour market prompted by economic impact of the global coronavirus pandemic, a local report said Sunday.

The expected decisions comprise estimates of employers’ needs of registered migrant and national workers as well as drawing up a plan of “Kuwaitising” a number of jobs, mainly the administrative ones, the source added.

The steps will also entail a study on increasing the numbers of Kuwaiti employees replacing expatriates in line with a law aimed at modifying the country’s population making-up, the source added.

Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s over 4.8 million population.

In recent months, there have been increasing calls in Kuwait for curbing foreigners’ employment to redress a demographic imbalance amid accusations that migrant workers have strained the country’s infrastructure facilities.