MP details provisions of draft expat 'cull'

'Numbers spell danger'

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 30

Member of Parliament Abdallah Al-Tamimi has presented a proposal intended at cutting the number of expatriate workers in the country vis-à-vis Kuwait's population structure. The proposal has come amid increasing numbers of expatriates in the country which put a burned on the services rendered by the State.

The expatriates have also changed the demographics of the nation and at the moment they number more than double the number of citizens. MPAl-Tamimi said according to official statistics, since 2010 the number of expatriates who have rectified their status is 921,084 out of the 953,047 which simply means 25,000 expatriates are still living in the country without valid documents, 6,832 of whom have already been arrested and deported.

The parliamentarian also indicated there are some nationalities whose numbers need to be reduced, "because it is illogical to have 730,114 Indians and 501,397 Egyptians and their numbers when added can spell danger in terms of social, economical and services point of view. MP Al-Tamimi noted his proposal consists of 15 clauses with a specific time frame during which an expatriate can stay in the country, particularly the middle-class and marginalized workers, with the exception of limited category of workers in government institutions such as the Amiri Diwan; the Cabinet; doctors and academics with distinguished qualifications.

However, no single community should exceed 10 percent of Kuwait's population. The proposal also suggests only the spouses and children of Kuwaiti woman married to a non-Kuwaiti can be issued visit visas. The proposal calls for tough penalties for persons who violate this law.

The following are the articles of the proposal:

■ Article One: This law will be applicable to all government institutions and the private sector in the country.

■ Article Two: Expatriates with minimum educational qualifications and expertise to be granted a valid visa for five years only which cannot be renewed under any circumstances.

■ Article Three: This law is linked to the number of people in every expatriate community, which must not exceed 10 percent of Kuwait's population.

■ Article Four: The law exempts spouses and children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaiti men.

■ Article Five: This law should be applicable to all foreigners - A rab and non-Arab - except the GCC citizens, the European Union and the United States of America.

■ Article Six: This law also excludes legal advisors in the judiciary, the Amiri Diwan, the Council of Ministers, doctors with rare specializations, and academicians with distinguished qualifications from universities recognized by Kuwait's Ministry of Higher Learning.

■ Article Seven: In accordance with this law, expatriates eligible for a five-year maximum work period cannot be given family visas or visit visas for any of their relatives.

■ Article Eight: Residence permits for those who have exceeded the earlier mentioned period in accordance with this law is to be cancelled after three months from the day this law is implemented.

■ Article Nine: The government institutions and the private sector establishments and individuals are barred from employing any expatriate who is not governed by this law.

■ Article 10: Most modern security systems (eye and fingerprint identification) have to be implemented to verify the identities of visa applicants and to prevent passport forgeries.

■ Article 11: Establishments and individuals (Kuwaitis) who violate this law should be sentenced to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of KD 10,000 or both.

■ Article 12: Deportation costs for the expatriates to be borne by the establishments and individuals who violate the law.

■ Article 13: Administrative penalty of three months' salary should be imposed on government and private sector employees for violating this law, in addition to demotion or deduction of pension money for the accomplice who helps violate the law.

■ Article 14: This law revokes all other laws that contradict this law.

■ Article 15: The Prime Minister and the Council of Minister is the authority to implement this law.