Cairo: Kuwait’s state Civil Service Commission has asked for replacing foreign social workers with citizens after the former were exempted from the replacement policy last year due to a shortage, a local report said Tuesday, as the country is seeking to limit expatriates' employment.
The commission has requested the Education Ministry to compile replacement lists for the current school year, including termination of services of expatriate employees in some educational and administrative jobs, Al Jarida reported, quoting education sources.
In response, the Education Ministry has asked its different sectors to list foreign employees who can be replaced. They include 131 social and psychological workers in schools and the ministry, the sources added. Those workers were exempted from replacement last year due to a staff shortage, but the commission insists on implementing related “Kuwaitisation” policy this year, they said.
Ninety-two Kuwaiti and Bidoon (stateless) applicants for jobs of social workers have successfully attended job interviews, but their appointment procedures have stopped for unclear reasons, the sources added. The commission has requested appointing 110 Kuwaiti holders of psychology degrees to offset a shortage in the specialty.
Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s over 4.8 million population.
Several state institutions in Kuwait have recently disclosed plans to minimise hiring foreigners, prioritising Kuwaitis’ employment. 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.
