Kuwaitization of government contracts advances with first job program at MPW
In a significant step toward implementing Cabinet Resolution No. (1179) of 2023 concerning the Kuwaitization of government contracts, the Ministry of Public Works, in coordination with the Public Authority for Manpower, has launched its first Kuwaitization recruitment program.
The Interview Committee of the Kuwaitization Unit held interviews at the Public Authority for Manpower headquarters for applicants to fill 95 job opportunities across 12 government contracts related to radical road maintenance works. A total of 318 applicants — including university graduates and diploma holders — were interviewed, according to Al-Jarida daily.
The initiative was held in the presence of Musaed Al-Mutairi, Acting Deputy Director General for Manpower Affairs, and Eng. Ahmed Al-Saleh, Assistant Undersecretary for the Planning and Development Sector at the Ministry of Public Works.
This program is the first of four phases planned by the ministry to replace expatriate labor with qualified Kuwaiti citizens in various technical and administrative roles. It aligns with the national strategy to boost local employment and empower national talent in government projects.
Engineer Al-Saleh emphasized that the Ministry of Public Works is the first government entity outside the oil sector to establish dedicated regulations for Kuwaitizing its contracts, reflecting its commitment to streamlining recruitment and increasing nationalization rates.
The ministry began with a structured approach: preparing a Kuwaitization plan, publishing official job announcements on the Public Authority for Manpower’s platform, and forming specialized interview committees.
The ministry also confirmed that a second phase of the Kuwaitization program will be launched later this year, following the completion of hiring procedures for the current contracts.
This initiative underscores the government’s broader effort to promote sustainable employment for citizens and reduce dependency on foreign labor in strategic sectors.
