The Public Authority for Manpower said the decision to stop the recruitment of qualified expatriates — those who hold high qualifications including university graduates and are below 30 years old — is good and will be implemented in early July.

The sources pointed out the decision was to be implemented earlier this year but was postponed for more study and to address the legal gaps.

The source said the decision aims at attracting highly experienced and competent people from outside the country, who are over the age of 30 years and also ‘forcing’ employers and private companies to employ citizens and create new job opportunities for young Kuwaitis, especially for those who hold university degrees.

The sources added, the decision means no exceptions will be entertained in the near future. The source went on to say, “The Authority the decision will be programmed in its automated system which will not accept the applications of any university graduates who are less than 30 years old.”

The source confirmed PAM continues to allow foreign workers to renew the work permit before the end of the period of up to 6 months electronically for institutions which subscribe to the E-Service As’hal (Easier).

The source added the PAM did not amend the decision to allow the early renewal of work permits or change it because the decisions was issued to facilitate the procedures, taking into account the need for work and companies.

“The sources added, the “early renewal does not require any exception and is automated through the service” easier “or in the labor department.”

Meanwhile, the Head of the Parliamentary Replacement Committee and the Employment Crisis, MP Khalil Al-Saleh in response to what was said by the Head of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Ahmed Al-Jassar, said the CSC should be one of the parties which should be most concerned about ‘replacement’ and ‘employment’, reports Al-Rai daily.

Al-Saleh was commenting on the statement made by Al-Jassar who has said it is difficult to do away with the services of expatriates both in the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. Al-Saleh wondered: “What harm will come on the Ministry of Health if it terminates the services of expatriate doctors who are over 65 years of age and can no longer perform surgical or technical work and automatically become administrative staff?” Al-Saleh said the expatriates working in the Ministry of Education are still a large figure, and the ministry should carry out a well-studied plan to remedy the situation. “So far there are still foreign teachers for social subjects, although there are Kuwaitis and children born to Kuwaiti mothers who are graduates and are not accepted under the pretext there is no need for teachers of such specializations while continuing to employ new expatriate teachers,” Al-Saleh added.

Al-Saleh said: “We support the immediate replacement and there should be no delay in this file, while at the same time not bringing a negative impact or defect on the performance of government agencies, because there are sectors that need to have tangible experience.”

News Source: Arab Times