FOREIGNERS HAPPY WITH THE DECISION OF NOT TO RENEW WORK PERMITS FOR EXPATRIATES OVER AGE OF 60

  • 08/10/2021

Kuwait City: Many foreigners are happy with the Fatwa Legislative Council's decision not to renew work permits for expatriates over the age of 60 who do not have a degree. Workers at the Mubarak market, which employs hundreds of foreigners, were delighted with the new decision. "We thank Kuwait for reversing the decision and the Kuwaiti authorities have set an outstanding example of humanity," said Al-Hajj Mustafa Mohammed, an expatriate worker who has worked in Kuwait for 40 years. He said the past few months have been full of fear and he is very relieved with the new decision. 


This decision was a big challenge to our dreams and livelihood. Haj Boukasem, a 75-year-old foreign worker, said: Every last day we were in tears. He said that by the grace of God, there is great happiness in the market today and he would like to thank all those who canceled the decision. 

The Fatwa Committee has stated that the decision taken by the Manpower Authority is not legally binding. 

The order was issued by amending Article 29 of the Labor Act, 2018. The Manpower Authority was willing to renew the iqama by charging an annual fee of 2,000 dinars following opposition from various quarters.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a number of parliamentarians, including ministers, opposed the proposal to renew the residence permit by charging a fixed annual fee from unskilled workers over the age of 60. The move could slow down the influx of skilled workers into the country and adversely affect the economy. 

The Manpower Authority took a major decision last August on the issue of foreigners' work permits in the wake of the population restructuring process.

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