The appointment of those whose citizenship was revoked at Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) on a five-year contract is a step in the right direction. It is part of the efforts of the country to address the social and economic challenges being faced by those who lost their citizenship for various reasons. Employing those whose citizenship was revoked is far better than bringing in foreign workers who are unfamiliar with the social traditions and geography of the country.
Those whose citizenship was revoked and the stateless residents (Bedouns) are more deserving of these vacant positions, as they have been residing in Kuwait their whole life, and they know no other homeland. They are better equipped to serve Kuwait than others. It is high time to resolve the issues this segment of people has been facing, especially since many of them have professional experience and academic qualifications. Their social stability will remarkably reduce the security and economic problems.
I previously stated that employing Bedouns after training them at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) and vocational institutes will help rectify the demographic imbalance and contribute to lowering crime rates. The widespread unemployment and scarcity of jobs are pushing some of those affected into illegal activities to earn a living and cover their families’ expenses. According to official reports, the crime rate among Bedouns has reached 50 percent. Although most of these crimes are misdemeanors, they indicate a sense of desperation in finding a legitimate source of income.
If jobs are provided to them, they will experience social stability, thus, signifi- cantly reducing the security and financial burdens of the state. Extending the successful initiative of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef in employing non-Kuwaitis at KFF to other government institutions is a progressive reform strategy. These individuals spend most of their income in Kuwait. If they undergo technical training, they could help fill the gaps in many sectors, ultimately benefiting the country.
I had earlier proposed solutions to the Bedoun issue, such as granting them passports without conditions, enabling them to travel freely and look for employment in other countries that could give them citizenship. These solutions also apply to the chronic problem that has long caused Kuwait a headache due to the international reports. Frankly speaking, the percentage of bachelor residents in Kuwait has reached 65 percent, which is a huge demographic imbalance, and majority of the violations are attributed to them. Replacing expatriates with Bedouns under long-term contracts could be one of the long-awaited solutions to the demographic imbalance issue.
Despite the fact that reform cannot be achieved overnight, several problems will be solved once it begins. Expatriate remittances last year reached around KD5.1 billion. Would it not have been better if these funds were spent domestically? If other ministries and government institutions follow the steps of the First Deputy Prime Minister, it will be a source of social stability.
If the government decides to provide limited subsidy to the private sector when it employs Bedouns, it will be like hitting many birds with one stone. It is now time to solve this problem that has been going on since the 1970s.
