Kuwaiti MPs seek ban on foreign advisers

Cairo: A number of Kuwaiti lawmakers have proposed a ban on employing any non-Kuwaiti as an adviser as the Gulf country is seeking to create more jobs for its citizens amid fallout from the global pandemic.

The proposal made by five members of the parliament envisages replacing the foreign advisers with qualified Kuwaiti professors and academics, local media reported.

The lawmakers have also argued that in case of the need arises for hiring foreigners as advisers, their employment must be within restrictions including that there is no Kuwaiti national with the same degree required for the position and that the appointment must not be non-renewable.

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 limit 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.