Kuwait City: The Public Authority for Manpower has begun enforcing a one year only work permit for those that are above the age of 60 and do not hold a university degree, Al Qabas reported.
The employment department of the Public Authority of Manpower has been implementing this policy verbally and informed those that have renewed their visa that they will not be able to renew their work permit in a year’s time unless the policy is changed, according to a source that spoke to Al Qabas.
The source went on to say that the move is meant to address the demographic imbalance, adjust the managerial and supervisor positions in the private sector and monitor the number of ‘marginal workers’ in Kuwait.
The labour statistics have found that there are 83,562 expats over the age of 60 residing in Kuwait. Out of which, 15,847 are illiterate, 24,000 can read and write, 10,000 hold a primary degree, 16,000 hold an intermediate diploma and 16,000 hold a high school diploma.
Demographic imbalance
On Sunday, the National Assembly’s Human Resources Development committee began reviewing proposals from the government, as well as MPs, that lay out policies that would reduce the number of expats in Kuwait.
One of the proposals put forth would result in the departure of 360,000 expats: illegal permit holders, expats over the age of 60 and ‘marginal workers’.
The demographic imbalance has been brought up by various governmental officials and MPs, pointing out that 70 per cent of the population in Kuwait are expats.
In addition, there has been a rise in xenophobia and hate towards expats on social media. Back in April, as the COVID-19 crisis was intensifying, many blamed expats for the spread of the virus.
