Kuwait is mulling a plan to offer citizenship to skilled foreign workers as it struggles to compete with Dubai for expatriate talent, a government advisor has said.
The Gulf state needs to attract top-level workers if it is to diversify its economy away from oil revenues, said Dr Sami Alfaraj, president of the Kuwait Center for Strategic Studies.
“We could not have managed the oil industry without expats… especially at the beginning. If we are thinking about new avenues of industry and technology to beat others we need more people specialising in that,” said Dr Alfaraj, who has advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister.
Kuwait’s view is that “Dubai gets the crème of expats and we get the lower end, especially the uneducated ones.”
The world’s fourth largest oil exporter is keen to diversify its oil-dependent economy and emulate the success of commercial hub Dubai, but has struggled to pass key reforms following long-standing political rows between parliament and the government.
Kuwait’s parliament is considering giving citizenship to top expatriate workers and their families as a means to fast-track the overhaul of its economy, Dr Alfaraj said.
“As long as we have the Kuwaiti parliament they will push for more nationalisation policies. Kuwaitis see the expat community as part of the fabric of society.”
The Gulf state has made efforts to overhaul its labour laws, announcing last year it would scrap its worker sponsorship system in favour of allowing businessmen to sponsor themselves.
Mohammed Al-Ifasi, Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, has said the country may scrap its existing sponsorship network, commonly known as the ‘kafeel’ system. In its place, expatriates would be allowed to transfer their work permits without gaining the consent of the current sponsors, and would allow certain businessmen in underserviced sectors to sponsor themselves.
-Courtesy of www.arabianbusiness.com/
Kuwait gets the "lower end" because of the treatment of workers - INCLUDING the higher-end/skilled/educated. Kuwaiti business (and social) methodology needs to be adjusted before the quality will want to stay.
ReplyDeleteMy question is this: Why not educate and support both Bidoon and Kuwaits who have been in this country for years? Why not provide citizenship to Bidoons (stateless) people who have worked her for years and provide better incentives.
I'm American and lived here for 14 years and I would love to have Kuwaiti nationality (preferably dual nationality if I could keep it under wraps like many); however, I would prefer to see citizenship given to those who deserve it much more like my friends who are Kuwaiti bidoon.
What I would like is if I could own property and/or land here. That way I could contribute to the economy and have peace of mind. That is one major difference between Kuwait and Dubai.
Hi DG,
ReplyDeleteI think that sounds perfectly reasonable to me that foreigners should be able to buy. I had heard that foreigners may be able to buy apartments but not own land so doesn't extend to houses. Let's hope this gets passed I know a few people who'd be happy with that.
Ditto the Bidoon problem I have heard that there are more free educational courses available for them than before but I'm not clear on all the details.
Would so like a solution for them instead of the limbo they are in.