Bringing in new unskilled workers to cost more – Move tied to result of expat exodus
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KUWAIT CITY, Mar 23: In this week’s Arab Times online poll, readers weighed in on the perceived consequences of expatriates moving out of Kuwait as a result of the rising cost of living. The increase of expenditure for basics amenities and the absence of a legal minimum wage and related regulations in the labour market, have limited financial savings for many expatriates.
The majority of 25 percent of voters felt that as a result of the expat exodus, Kuwaitis would have to pay high cost to bring in new unskilled workers. “I think it is cost effective to treat the workers you have here well, instead of paying money to bring in new people”, one reader shared.
23 percent of voters felt that expatriates would continue to live here with little or no savings. “I’ve lived my whole life in Kuwait, it is very difficult for me to consider moving back home. I am not able to save a lot of money in Kuwait because I’m in an mid-career position and the rents have shot up, I have car payments to be made. I continue to stay thinking my situation will improve soon.”
“We are a family of four and it has become more expensive to live in the same neighborhood and send our kids to the same school over the years with our salaries staying the same. Even though we are not able to save much, at least here, we are able to provide a better life for our kids. We may be able to do so back home”, a reader shared.
11 percent felt that qualified expats in field of medical, engineering, IT, food and other sectors would continue to stay. “The Kuwaiti economy needs highly skilled workers like any other economy of the world so there will always be jobs for well qualified expatriates. “In Kuwait, since a majority of the local population goes into the public sector, there are a lot of job opportunities for qualified and experienced expatriates with good work ethics.”
22 percent felt that the real estate market would be adversely affected by expatriates moving out of Kuwait. “What is going to happen to the hundreds of buildings that are being constructed in every nook and cranny in Kuwait, when the expats move out? These builders are in for huge losses if the flats remain vacant.”
Only 2 percent felt that new technologies would be implemented to run companies with minimum staff. “If you take a close look at many companies and organizations now, you will notice a lot of redundancies. There are a lot of processes that can be automated. I think it is inevitable that a lot of jobs will become obsolete with the current pace of new technologies”, a voter shared.
2 percent of respondents felt that the jobs left vacant by expatriates would be filled by the stateless in Kuwait and another 12 percent of voters felt that low paid old expats will be replaced by highly paid new expats. The remaining 2 percent felt that the immediate effect would be less traffic on roads. “The only positive effect of expatriates moving out of the country will be the minutes saved on my commute to work”, a reader stated.
By Cinatra Fernandes Arab Times Staff
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