Cabinet to issue decision on reducing number of expats

Cabinet to issue decision on reducing number of expats:

Stay in the country for employment only’

KUWAIT CITY, June 2: The Council of Ministers will soon issue a decision to reduce the number of expatriates in Kuwait so that they do not exceed 45 percent of the total population in Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily quoting informed sources.

They said the decision will be issued to establish a balance between the number of expatriates and the number of Kuwaitis in the country. Expatriates can stay in the country for employment only within the period specified in their residential permit depending on the category they belong.

They pointed out that by limiting the duration of the residential permit, the problem of citizenship claims and accumulation of redundant expatriate workforce can be prevented.

They revealed that the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the Council of Ministers, have already started working on eliminating the problem of redundant expatriate workforce in Kuwait through security campaigns during which approximately 3,000 illegal residents were arrested.

The ministry is also carrying out other required procedures to deport the arrested expatriates in order to reduce their numbers in the country.

They also said the ministry, in coordination with security agencies, is taking other serious measures to eliminate this problem such as establishing labor accommodations, which will facilitate security operations when required.

They also added that the companies or individuals who are responsible for the spread of illegal residents in the country will be severely punished with imprisonment for one to three months and fine of KD 10,000 to KD 100,000.

As of April 20, 2012 there are 2.167 million expats in Kuwait, " labor forces of 23 nationalities living in Kuwait"; 94,040 in public sector, 1,109,000- 51% in the private sectors, 606,482 domestic workers and 448,394 on visa 22. Indians rank number one with 653,223, Egyptians in second with 456,543 and Bangladeshi expats in third with 189,461. Damn that's a lot of expats.

Kuwaiti citizens make up about 1.16 million. I cannot begin to image there are over 3 million people living in this country, especially when you can drive from one end to the other in a couple of hours. It's sad that they have let the country get this crowded and have made it nearly impossible for citizens and their families to even leave their houses. Who wants to go anywhere when you know you will be sitting in traffic for hours and finding parking is so bad people are stabbing each other over parking spaces.

The other GCC countries have taken steps to regain control over their countries and Kuwait has finally started to take control. I hope they follow thru with their plans, actions speak louder than words.