Final approval awaited for lifting residency restrictions for expatriates above 60
Against the backdrop of a campaign launched by Al-Jarida, the latest of which was the headline published on the 3rd of November, titled ‘The Decision of 60-Year-Old Expatriates Towards Correction’ it was indicated that there are trends to make radical amendments to the Public Authority for Manpower’s decision No. 34/2022.
This decision pertains to expatriate workers aged 60 and above who hold a high school diploma or less, or its equivalent. The campaign highlighted that the decision, after being implemented for three years, had resulted in deep and ongoing negative repercussions on the labor market.
Furthermore, Al-Jarida learned that the Public Authority for Manpower’s Board of Directors agreed in a meeting two days ago to cancel the previous decision. They have submitted a proposal to the Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, H.E. Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, for approval of the cancellation.
According to sources from the Public Authority for Manpower, the old system will be reinstated, allowing workers aged 60 and above who hold less than university degrees to renew their work permits or transfer them to another employer. This will be done without the 900 dinar fee stipulated in the previous decision, which included a 500 dinar annual health insurance policy.
The sources indicated that the Authority’s Board of Directors also canceled the condition requiring this category to have a university degree for transfer and renewal without paying the prescribed fees.
They emphasized that the cancellation of this decision reflects the political leadership’s serious commitment to advancing the market and addressing the errors caused by the ‘Kuwait Closure phase, which resulted in a severe shortage of skilled expatriate workers across various sectors.
Additionally, the decision aligns with recent corrective actions taken by the Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, H.E. Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, to rectify distortions in the market and return it to the right path.
Source: Al Jarida
