KUWAIT CITY, Oct 23: The National Committee for Regulating Demographics, under the leadership of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled, is currently evaluating a set of decisions aimed at facilitating opportunities for young people to enter the private sector.

Reliable sources said the committee is pursuing multiple avenues, including measures to curb the practice of visa trading, putting an end to irregularities in the issuance of commercial licenses, ceasing the inclusion of commercial shop licenses for non-Kuwaitis, and encouraging citizens to operate businesses under the licenses they hold.

The intention is to take stringent measures to prevent the inclusion of commercial shops for expatriates, which is already prohibited by law.

The committee has explored all available prospects in the private sector, with a focus on attracting young men to work in this sector.

Additionally, there are plans to enhance services for small and medium-sized enterprise owners (SMEs), inspiring young people to foster creativity and develop their ideas and projects.

The sources also confirmed the inclination to leverage job opportunities in companies with government contracts, including their facilities, so that Kuwaiti youth can secure a share of the workforce. It is emphasized that a review of worker recruitment for these contracts will not allow an unjustified increase.

One proposal includes diversifying the the job market across various sectors, thereby reducing overreliance on a single nationality. Furthermore, the conditions and qualifications needed for specific roles will be set to ensure specialization and prevent unqualified individuals from occupying positions, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of the private sector workforce.

These decisions will be accompanied by campaigns against fictitious companies that hire surplus workers without a genuine need in the private sector. Such practices disrupt the demographic composition and lead to an increase in under-the-table employment.

Such companies will be followed by a gradual increase in violations as preparation for their eventual elimination and the accountability of those responsible.

The anticipated decisions are expected to yield positive outcomes in terms of encouraging foreign investment, rebalancing the demographic composition, reducing shop rents, facilitating the launch of private ventures by Kuwaiti youth, and safeguarding tenants from shop owners. These measures will also contribute to enhancing Kuwait's international and global ranking.

It is noteworthy that Article 9 of Kuwaiti Commercial Registry Law No. 18 of 2018 prohibits anyone registered in the commercial registry from enabling others to exploit their registration. It is also forbidden for individuals to use commercial registries they do not possess, falsely indicate registration, or employ incorrect registration data on store fronts or documents.

This law does not affect the right to use names or trademarks arising from international trade contracts, technology transfer agreements, concession contracts, or international agreements valid in the State of Kuwait. The use of trade names by others is strictly prohibited.

By Fares Al-Abdan

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff