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Kuwait Curbs Expat Employment In Public Sector

Gulf Insider28-03-2025
Kuwait is forging ahead with implementing a vigorous replacement policy in all government agencies whereby the contract of any foreign worker (expat) doing a non-rare job will not be renewed after the end of the current month.
Kuwaiti newspaper Al Anbar, citing unidentified sources, reported that the numbers of such expatriates are limited and retained pending grooming Kuwaitis as part of a plan to boost national human resources in different fields.
According to the replacement policy adopted as part of an employment policy known as 'Kuwaitization', specific rates are set for each job category, designed to ensure work balance on the one hand and enhance the Kuwaitis' engagement in the labour market on the other.
The sources disclosed that the replacement policy entails job groups that are set for complete 'Kuwaitisation' and others where the replacement rates range between 70% and 98% of the overall manpower.
The former category includes jobs of information technology, maritime field, arts, media and public relations, administrative development, follow-up, support and statistics, a breakdown provided by the sources has shown.
The latter includes jobs linked to forensic evidence, rescue, social, educational, and sports services, engineering, sciences, finance, economics, commerce, law, politics, Islamic affairs and crafts.
Foreigners currently constitute around 3.3 million of Kuwait's 4.9 million population, according to official figures.
In recent years, Kuwait has intensified efforts to create jobs for its citizens, replace foreign employees, and address the demographic imbalance in the country.
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