Cannot set time frame for replacing expat employees, says Minister

Setting a time limit for replacing expatriate public sector employees with Kuwaiti manpower is not possible because implementing such plan is closely related to labor market needs and the outcome of the educational system, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel explained.

According to local daily report, Minister made that clarification in response to demands made by the National Assembly’s human resources committee, which called the government to provide it with a ‘timed plan’ to complete the replacement of expatriate employees in state departments with Kuwaiti staff members.

The government has embarked last year on a plan to create jobs for Kuwaiti manpower by releasing around 80,000 non Kuwaitis currently working in state departments and have similar qualifications. The plan’s ultimate goal is to achieve complete ‘Kuwaitization’ of public sector jobs within five years of its commencement.