Kuwait: Residency permits of 953 stuck abroad annulled
Total of revoked permits in Gulf state hits 2,716 in 10 days
Cairo: Residency permits of 953 migrant workers, stuck abroad due to travel restrictions, have been revoked in Kuwait in the past 10 days for failure to apply for renewal, according to official figures.
Sponsors or employers of the 953 workers failed to apply for renewing their work permits, the Public Authority of Manpower has said.
The number of expatriates’ residency permits cancelled since the agency launched its electronic system Ashal (Easier) to process transactions on January 12 have totalled 2,716, its figures have shown.
They also include 197 due to death and 1,584 others for their holders’ wish to leave the country, Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas reported.
About 30,000 more foreign workers have their work permits renewed, it added.
Kuwait has made accreditation of expatriates’ education degrees conditional for renewing their work permits.
The Public Authority of Manpower has urged employers to apply via Ashal for having their employees’ degrees accredited.
The overall tally of such certificates accredited since January 12 has reached 5,354, according to Al Qabas.
Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s over 4.8 million population. Kuwait has recently set new controls to regulate its labour market amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Several state institutions in the Gulf state have disclosed plans to limit hiring foreigners, prioritising Kuwaitis’ employment as part of efforts to redress a demographic balance in the country.