Kuwait probes official over unauthorised ban on expats

A senior Kuwaiti official has been referred to an interrogation for issuing a controversial decree banning expatriates above 60 who hold no university degree from renewing their work permits, local media reported.

Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Abdullah Al-Salman gave orders to suspend Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower Ahmad Al-Mousa for three months, or until the end of investigations concerning his decision to stop issuing or renewing visas for residents over the age of 60 who do not have university degrees, Al-Rai Arabic daily reported.

The Legal Advice and Legislation Department has invalidated the decision, issued in August last year, saying the ban had no legal basis, thus clearing the way for scrapping it.

The department, a Cabinet affiliate, added that the ban had been issued by the PAM director-general without authorisation.

The ban could have also resulted in economic and humanitarian consequences as Al Moussa’s referral came upon a recommendation from the council of ministers, Al Qabas said, quoting well-informed sources.

Around 4,013 such expatriates have been forced out of the work market in Kuwait in the first six months of enforcing the decision, Al Qabas said, citing unspecified statistics.

The ban, which went into effect earlier this year, triggered an outcry among rights activists, who argued that it affects thousands of expatriates and their families who long lived in Kuwait.
Critics also said the restriction has also caused damage to many employers and destabilised the labour market, robbing it of experienced workers.

The ban was seen as an attempt to reduce numbers of migrant workers who account for majority of Kuwait’s population.