Finance

Kuwait enforces ‘Kuwaitisation’ in oil jobs, barring non-citizens

Kuwait has introduced the “Kuwaitisation” employment policy, dedicated to filling 1,211 positions within the country’s oil sector exclusively with Kuwaiti nationals this year, excluding foreign candidates. The Kuwait Oil Company leads the pack with 629 positions, followed by the Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company with 507 openings.

This significant shift was initiated by Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior (MoI), signaling a substantial change in the composition of the labor force. As part of this endeavor, over 800 expatriate workers have had their employment contracts terminated. The policy aims to empower the state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and its subsidiaries to intensify efforts in job creation for Kuwaiti citizens, addressing demographic imbalances.

The primary goal is to equip Kuwaiti authorities with more effective tools to combat illegal foreign residency. There is a clear warning that any expatriate found harboring an unlawful resident will also face deportation. According to reports from Al Qabas newspaper, Kuwait deported a record-breaking 42,000 expatriates in the previous year for various violations, including infringements of residence and labor laws and involvement in criminal activities.

Boosting Kuwaiti Manpower:

  • Kuwait’s public sector employs around 483,200 individuals, with foreigners constituting 23% of the workforce, the highest proportion among Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
  • Data from the Kuwait Public Authority for Civil Information, as of February 2024, indicates that the combined government and private sector workforce totals 1.9 million, with 75% employed in the private sector.
  • A recent census highlights that foreigners comprise approximately 3.2 million of Kuwait’s 4.6 million population.
  • Subsidiaries of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, such as the Oil Kuwait Gulf Company and Kuwait Petroleum International, are actively exploring employment strategies for Kuwaiti nationals in collaboration with KPC.
  • In recent years, Kuwait has intensified efforts to generate job opportunities for its citizens, reduce dependence on foreign workers, and address the demographic imbalance within the country.

These measures underscore Kuwait’s commitment to employing its citizens, fostering economic self-sufficiency, and reshaping its labor landscape to better align with national priorities. As the country navigates these changes, the emphasis on creating a more balanced and sustainable workforce is expected to yield long-term benefits for Kuwait’s economic and social development.

Related Articles

Back to top button