KUWAIT CITY, March 21: “The concerned authorities at Ministry of Interior only have the right to deport expatriate laborers who have been registered under illegal files”, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a top official from Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor as saying.

Regarding the statement made by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Al-Rasheedi about reducing the number of expatriates in the country by 100,000 annually, he wondered what she meant by balancing the demographic structure and whether she reviewed the official statistics in this regard.

He indicated that the official statistics highlight a discrepancy between the number of expatriate laborers brought into the country and those that left the country, adding that he wondered if the minister referred this aspect of the statistics.

He explained that the procedure for canceling the work permit of any expatriate laborer requires the latter and his sponsor to visit the Labor Relations Department of the ministry to ensure the laborer receives his rights and dues irrespective of whether he is on a governmental or a private contract.

Regarding the minister’s usage of ‘marginal personnel’, he stressed that such a term is not applicable as such laborers are employed without a specific center of work, in which case violations should be registered against the companies that recruit such personnel.

Regarding the issue of banning companies owned by businessmen from GCC countries from recruiting expatriate personnel in their companies and allowing them to recruit laborers from local market, he enquired whether the minister reviewed the reports of meetings held among GCC countries which bid for economic unity. He also wondered what will happen if the GCC countries retaliate and treat Kuwaiti companies in the same way as suggested by the minister.

Meanwhile, some employers are planning to sue Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for the decision taken by the Undersecretary to suspend transfer of commercial visit visa to work permit in the private sector, as it has affected thousands of expatriates of various nationalities, reports Alam Alyawm daily quoting an informed source.

He disclosed that majority of the affected applicants are involved in major investment projects, indicating that such a decision is inimical to the development plan that intends to transform Kuwait into international trade hub.

He said the employers blame the ministry for the losses they have incurred in recruiting the expatriates.
He argued that since the minister declared the decision will be effective from April, the labor departments should accept applications from those who were already in the country ahead of the period.

He insisted that deporting the applicants is an arbitrary decision, which contravenes the rights of the workers in the international labor organizations.