KUWAIT CITY, Oct 23: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor will soon allow citizens of 37 countries who are granted visa on arrival to transfer their visit and commercial visas to residence visas.

Assistant Undersecretary for Labor Affairs Jamal Al-Dousari said a memorandum to this effect has been forwarded to Minister Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi for approval. Citizens of European countries, United States, Canada and Australia will benefit from the decision. It will be an unconditional transfer, said Al-Dousari, adding the citizens of these countries don’t have to fulfill any educational requirements.

On a separate issue, an Interior Ministry source told the Arab Times that the issue of visit visas was not finalized during Sunday’s meeting. The source added that categories were being set up for those who would be allowed to get visit visas for first-degree relatives. He expected the issue to be finalized at the next meeting within three or four days.

In the meantime, the suspension on the issuance of visit visas to people of six countries — Syria, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen — remains in effect.

Furthermore, another memorandum allowing the transfer of visit visa to work permit in the private sector (Article 18 visa) has been prepared, said Al-Dousari. However, only those holding bachelors’ degree or diploma in technical fields will be allowed to transfer, he added.

Referring to the issue of salary reduction, Al-Dousari said salaries of employees cannot be reduced unless both parties — the employer and the employee-agree on the arrangement. “The act of salary reduction amounts to violation of the new labor law, because the legislators regard labor contract as submissive in nature to protect the weaker party — the employee,” he said, adding salary increments are allowed without any maximum ceiling.

Also, Al-Dousari said an employee is entitled to full indemnity in case of retrenchment or end of contract without reasons. He explained that indemnities are of three categories, in case the employee resigns. “If an employee works for less than a year, he has right to one-third of salary; if he works between one to three years, he has right to two-third of the salary; and if he works between five and ten years, he has right to full indemnity, provided the amount is not more than the sum equivalent to his one-and-half years’ salary,” he said.