‘Corruption, greed give rise to increase in illegal expatriates’
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In this week’s Arab Times online poll, readers weighed in on the factors responsible for the illegal status of expatriates in Kuwait. The majority of voters felt that all the players from visa buyers and sellers, to absconders and sponsors who mistreat their workers are to be blamed.
The substantial presence of expatriates without valid, legal residence permits, the ensuing crackdown by the Ministry of Interior and subsequent deportations have dominated headlines. But actions against the widespread and entrenched problem seem to be futile to many.
43 percent of voters felt that the condition was a result of too many factors that are not adequately addressed, from visa trading and buying, to hiring of cheap labour, maltreatment of workers, prematurely terminated work contracts and absconders. “The number of visa violators is still significant despite the Ministry of Interior conducting timely raids. We are not addressing the root of the problem. We need a radical solution that addresses all the factors to blame. The illegal expatriate is not the sole offender, there are many others who are complicit”, a reader commented.
37 percent blamed visa traders who sell visas without providing jobs while 6 percent of voters blamed visa buyers who buy visa illegal way as they show greed of money to seller. “If there was no demand for visas, there would be no visa sellers”, a voter shared. “We cannot tackle the problem of illegal expatriates in Kuwait without addressing the larger issues of corruption and greed. We need to introduce stricter measures to curb visa trading. You cannot just penalise expatriates who are buying visas to stay in the country to make enough money and support their families and not reprimand those who exploit this”, a reader shared.
2 percent blamed companies and employers who hire cheap labor as the main culprits.
9 percent felt that sponsors who mistreat their workers were guilty and one percent of respondents felt that absconders who run away from their sponsors for better wages were part of the problem. Another one percent also charged companies who terminate employers prior to contract as being liable for the surge in illegal visa trading. “Semi-skilled and unskilled workers are lured to Kuwait with the promise of a better life by recruitment agencies. It is only when they get here do they realise that their visa does not match what they came here to work as. This leads many to abscond”, a reader commented.
By Cinatra Fernandes Arab Times Staff
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