Kuwaiti Oil Minister Defends Expat Professionals As The Only Option

Published:  11 Jan at 6 PM
Want to get involved?

Become a

Featured Expat

and take our interview.

Become a

Local Expert

and contribute articles.

Get in

touch

today!

Attempts to make problems for Kuwait’s oil minister should he fail to apply Kuwaitization to the oil and gas sector are now on hold.

Kuwaiti lawmakers have been threatening the emirate’s oil, electricity and water minister Khaled al Fadhel with grilling should he fail to replace expat professionals with their Kuwaiti equivalents. For a while, parliamentary demands have concentrated on the replacement of expat professionals holding technical jobs with qualified and experienced Kuwaiti nationals. Unfortunately, there seem not to be any Kuwaiti nationals with the qualifications and experience necessary to take over from expats who’ve been working in the industry for years.

In addition, job vacancy advertisements are placed when there is a need for a replacement, and sources are reporting lawmakers are being seen as interfering in purely technical issues about which they know little and understand even less. The oil company application processes involve testing all applicants, including Kuwaiti nationals, and inevitably result in the hiring of expat specialists with relevant experience. Letting go of expatriate professionals isn’t an option when there are no experienced Kuwaitis to take over their jobs.

Meanwhile in the Kuwaiti parliament, Saafa al Hashem’s continuing insults of expatriates was interrupted by prominent lawmaker Adnan Abdulsamad’s coming out in expats’ favour by rejecting a campaign targeting foreign workers. Abdulsamad insisted the expat presence in the emirate existed because Kuwaiti companies employed them to benefit the country. Some jobs, he added, could only be done by qualified expatriates who should be respected for the help they're giving to the emirate and its economy. For several years, al Hashem has been attacking Kuwait’s expat community, now at around 3 million as against some 1.4 million citizens.

Comments » No published comments just yet for this article...

Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!

Tell us Your Thoughts On This Piece:

RECENT NEWS

Spains Digital Nomad Visa One Year On: How Are Remote Workers And Locals Getting Along?

Spain introduced its digital nomad visa last year. Here's how it's going so far. Read more

Real Life The Terminal: Italian Man Moves Out Of Airport After 9-month Stay

Airport staff became 'like family' to Arnaldo. Read more

Europes Happiest Countries: Boost Your Serotonin And Lower Your Emissions With A Flight-free Trip

What is better for happiness than travelling? Travelling with sustainability in mind. Read more

Want To Meet Jonathan, The Worlds Oldest Tortoise? St Helena Island Is Opening Up To Tourists

Natural wonders. Napoleon's exile. A remote island in the South Atlantic is now easier to reach Read more

Heres Why A Visit To South Africas Lepogo Lodges Could Be The Most Eco-friendly Safari In Africa

Lepogo Lodges in South Africa offer luxury safaris - so far, so normal - but are also serious about protecting the surro... Read more

Tulips From (just Outside) Amsterdam: Add Keukenhof To Your Spring Travel Bucket List

The beautiful spring garden is one of the Netherlands’ premier tourist attractions - but be quick as it’s only open ... Read more