Kuwait municipality jobs -Phased plan to replace expats

Kuwait has unveiled a plan phasing out expatriates doing municipality jobs in the country and replacing them with citizens, Kuwait media reported.

The Ministry of Municipality Rana Al Fares has worked out a three-phase plan to replace foreign employees in municipal jobs with Kuwaitis.

In a letter addressed to Director-General of Municipality Ahmed Al Manfuhi, a copy of which was obtained by Al Qabas, the minister requested lists of non-Kuwaiti employees as a step to take legal procedures to terminate their services, the paper said.

As part of the scheme, the minister ordered a halt to all procedures related to appointment of non-Kuwaitis or their transfer among municipal sectors.

The plan will go into effect on September 1, terminating contracts of 33 per cent of expatriates after giving them discontinuation notices, Al Qabas newspaper said. The second phase, replacing 33 per cent others, will take effect on February 1 while the third targeting the remaining expatriates will go into effect on July 1, it added.

Exempted from the plan are certain categories including foreign employees whose mothers are Kuwaitis; nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council; registered stateless Bidoons; services employees; and 50 per cent of funeral workers.