A thriving oil industry has secured for the State of Kuwait [also known as
Dawlat al Kuwait] an edge in world industry. Its small, open, and
prosperous economy has also enabled it to welcome the active participation
of foreign workers in its labor force. Of its 2,111,561 population as of
July 2002, 1,159,913 are non-nationals, and most of these non-nationals
are actually workers there. So if you are thinking of becoming one of
those non-Kuwaiti workers, you will find this article useful.
Government
Kuwait has a
constitutional monarchy, where the Amir [or prince] exercises his power
with the guidance of the Council of Ministers. The Council, usually
referred to as ‘the government’, is headed by a Prime Minister [appointed
by the Amir].
Its judicial system
is based on the Egyptian model; it is an amalgam of Islamic law, English
common law, and the Ottoman civil code. Male citizens 21 years and older
are allowed to vote, and to avoid political conflicts, neither judges, nor
the uniformed services (i.e. police and military personnel) vote.
Society
Although the Kuwaiti
population is diverse, people there are generally known to be generous and
hospitable. The fundamental core of society is the family. Kuwaitis keep
very close family ties, both in the immediate and extended sense. Large
weddings are a common tradition, where the men and women gather
separately, and the women's reception usually lasts through breakfast.
This all-night celebration of the matrimony of two people, of the coming
together of two families, demonstrates the importance of the idea of
family in Kuwaiti society.
Men and women alike are now accustomed to wearing clothes of "western"
design. However, it is still common for men, both young and old, to go out
in the traditional outfit [dishdasha- a long, loose garment; gahfiya- a
small, round knit head covering; khitra- a large piece of cloth; igal- a
firm circular piece placed on the head to hold the khitra in place]. For
women, traditional apparel is a bit less common. They are not forced to
wear the hijab or niqab, the different Islamic veils. The decision to do
so is usually left up to them or is based on their families’ desires.
Work Requirements
Requirements for an Employment Visa to Kuwait:
Two Visa
applications from the Embassy to be filled by the applicant.
An Original passport
that should have at least a one-year minimum validity.
Two photos
Applicants with a
Government contract must provide a Letter of Appointment from Kuwait when
applying for a Visa.
Applicants going to
work in the Private Sector need an official Work Permit prior to applying
for a Visa.
A Complete Physical
Examination for contagious or disabling diseases including an AIDS test.
Police Clearance
If family members
are accompanying the applicant, the Work Permit or Letter of Appointment
must state this.
The Fees for a Visa
differ from Embassy to Embassy.
Applications sent by
mail to the Embassy concerned should include a stamped self-addressed
envelope for return by certified or registered mail.
Work Permits/No
Objection Certificates
You will need a
Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Social
Affairs and Labor and a No Objection Certificate and entry permit issued
by the Ministry of the Interior. These formalities must be completed by
your sponsor.
Residence Permits
In order to obtain a
residence permit, you must complete a form issued by the Ministry of the
Interior and have this signed by your sponsor. You will need to be
fingerprinted and also to undergo a medical check. After the completion of
these two, the form is then taken to your local Passport Office with the
following:
Fingerprint
Department form
Medical Certificate
Work Permit from the
Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor
No Objection
Certificate and copies
A copy of your
passport
At least four
passport photographs
As a general rule,
these procedures are the responsibility of the sponsor. In a large
company, a man who deals with various government departments and agencies
(called in Arabic a mandub) will probably have the responsibility of
carrying out these jobs.
Health Regulations
Vaccination
Certificates are required against cholera and yellow fever for travelers
coming from infected areas. Children less than one year old are exempted.
Vaccination against TB is also recommended. In order to qualify for
residence in Kuwait, you must undergo a medical check. This is primarily
aimed at detecting such major infectious diseases as AIDS and TB. Those
found to have serious infectious diseases will not be allowed to stay in
the country.
Civil ID
Once residence
procedures have been completed, you are required to register for a Civil
ID card. This is compulsory and the cards, once issued, should be carried
with you at all times. Once the form has been completed, you will need to
submit it along with photographs and a photocopy of the relevant pages of
your passport to the Public Authority for Civil Information.
Labor Salary and
Benefits
Salaries range from
KD 25 a month for cleaners from the Far East to more than KD 3.000 a month
for western business professionals. At both extremes the employer usually
provides accommodation. But on average expatriate earn about KD 105 a
month with few benefits.
Some aspects of living in Kuwait are
relatively expensive so terms of service besides basic salary are
important. The common benefits offered to expatriate include:
Accommodation: An
employer may provide a villa or flat, or give a rent allowance [which may
or may not be adequate].
Transportation: A
company car may be provided, but often a car allowance is given instead
and care needs to be taken to ensure that it is adequate to cover the
running costs. Some companies provide employees with a loan to buy a car
or will act as guarantor to a finance company.
School fees: Fees
for local schools that follow foreign curricula vary and should be taken
to ensure that school fees paid by an employer are adequate.
Annual Holidays:
Annual leave varies from 28 days every two years to 42 days or more a
year.
Return Air Fares:
Care needs to be taken to ensure that annual return airfares included in
an employment contract cover family members.
* These benefits are
commonly provided to foreign workers. However, unless contractual benefits
are adequate, actual savings may not reach your expectations.
Health and Social
Welfare Services
The primary level of
health care in Kuwait is provided by a system of local clinics. These
clinics can be found in the local community centers, often near each
neighborhood co-op supermarket. In order to receive services, patients
must live in the area covered by the clinic, and a medical card provided
by the clinic is necessary (cards can be obtained merely by showing a
civil ID card). These local clinics usually deal with preliminary
examinations and routine check-ups and services.
Kuwait is divided
into five health regions, with one main government-run hospital in each:
the Amiri Hospital in Kuwait City, Jahra Hospital in Jahra, Farwaniyah
Hospital in Farwaniyah, Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital in Jabriya, and Adan
Hospital in Fahaheel. Each hospital provides full outpatient services and
24-hour emergency service for Kuwaitis and expatriates.
Although most
benefits of the Kuwaiti welfare are available only to Kuwaiti nationals,
foreign expatriates living in Kuwait can obtain many of the services.
Through a new policy that began in August 1999, expatriates receive free
emergency care and free prescriptions; however, a nominal fee is charged
as a token payment. However, emergency room procedures are still free, and
all specialist doctors and hospitals have the right to exempt their
patients from all charges if they so desire.
Other welfare
benefits available to foreigners include subsidized electricity, water,
and gasoline.
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Although this article covers a lot about life and labor in Kuwait, it is
still best to do some research yourself. The Internet is a great help in
answering whatever questions you might have, whether you may be seriously
interested in working in Kuwait [or any other country] or not.
