publish time

31/01/2022

author name Arab Times

publish time

31/01/2022

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 31: Although a law has been published in the Official Gazette (Al- Kuwait Al-Youm) that allows non-graduate expatriates who are 60 years and above to renew their residence permits, the General Administration of Residence Affairs has reportedly not yet received a circular from the concerned authorities to open the door for residence renewal for this category of people in addition to updating the information systems that allows companies to renew their workers’ residence permits “online”, reports Al- Anba daily.

This is hampered by the inability of the insurance companies to come to terms with PAM on the modalities to collect the insurance fees and how much. However, a decision in this regard is expected to be issued ‘within hours’ following a meeting between the insurance companies which are listed on the Kuwait stock exchange market and representatives of the Public Authority for Manpower since the residence renewal for all expatriates requires the health insurance documents to be submitted along with other documents.

Meanwhile, Al-Qabas quoting informed sources said the cost of insurance that was previously offered has not been agreed upon by the PAM board of directors, since it can reduce its value or find other solutions to make it possible for this category of people to pay the insurance money. The sources added the cost of insurance proposed by some, 500 dinars and consultation fee of five dinars each time a person visits the hospital and pay 10 percent of the bill, is not appropriate and does not serve the humanitarian approach that was agreed upon recently during the meeting which was chaired by the Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Affairs Integrity Jamal Al-Jalawi to reduce the value of the work permit renewal. The sources pointed out that reducing the fee for work permit renewal by 50% by Al-Jalawi compared to the last decision of of the Board of Directors during the era of former Minister Abdullah Al-Salman, has a humanitarian dimension to end the issue that remained unsolved for more than a year. However, the ‘Sixties expatriates’ lamented the inability, until yesterday, of the insurance companies to issue a circular detailing the insurance fee.