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| Indians
in Kuwait |
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| IIK
Interactive |
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| Indian
Embassy |
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| Useful
Links |
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| About
Kuwait |
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| Salary and Cost of Living |
There is no legal minimum wage
in the private sector. An informal two-tiered labor market
ensures high wages for Kuwaiti nationals, most of who are
in government white collar or executive positions, while foreign
workers, even those in skilled positions, receive substantially
lower wages. Recently a visiting Bangladeshi Foreign Minister
reported that the Bangladeshi domestic workers earn as little
as 20 KD (1 KD = 140 IRS Approx.) per month. There is no legal
minimum wage in the country. Non citizens do not receive the
same social benefits as citizens and must pay fees for education
and health care, which are provided free for all citizens.
Private sector wages range from as much 2,500 to 3,000 dinars
each month for top managers of large companies to between
200 to 300 dinars for other skilled professionals and no skilled
workers. The public sector minimum wage provides a decent
standard of living for a worker and family. Wages of unskilled
workers in the private sector do not always provide a decent
standard of living, with housemaids often making less than
40 dinars per month. To be eligible to sponsor family members
for residency, government and private sector workers must
receive a minimum wage of 400 dinars per month.
Employers often exploit workers' willingness to accept substandard
conditions. Some foreign workers, especially unskilled or
semiskilled South Asian workers, live and work much like indentured
servants, are unaware of their legal rights, and generally
lack the means to pursue a legal remedy. They frequently face
contractual disputes and poor working conditions, and may
face physical and sexual abuse. Most are in debt to their
employers before they arrive in the country and have little
choice but to accept the employer's conditions, even if they
breach the contractual terms. It is not uncommon for wages
to be withheld for a period of months, or to be decreased
substantially. Many foreign workers are forced to live in
"housing camps," which generally are overcrowded
and lack adequate cooking and bathroom facilities. Workers
are housed 10 or more to a room in squalid conditions, many
without access to adequate running water. The workers are
only allowed off the camp compound on company transport or
by permission of the employer. Foreign workers' ability to
change their employment is limited, and, in some cases, employers'
possession of foreign workers' passports allows them to exercise
control over such employees. Many foreign workers go heavily
into debt and cannot afford to return home.
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| Cost of living |
You can definitely sock away
several thousand a year living prudently - not frugally. Cost
of living is not unreasonable
Kuwait laws do not allow expatriates to buy house or other
properties. Monthly rent for a single bed room flat with a
hall and kitchen is about 100 to 150 KD depending on the locality.
a two bed room flat with a hall and kitchen will be around
180 to 250 KD. There are many Indian families living in a
shared apartment which means two families together will buy
a two bedroom flat for rent. This is more economical expect
for top managers and other such professionals. Bachelor can
share a room/apartment with other 3-4 bachelors for a monthly
rent of 25-35 KD per person. There are many Indian messes
where bachelors can stay with food for a monthly rent of KD
35 - 50 with 2-3 people in a room. Usually for a single person
the monthly food expense will come around 30 - 50 KD.
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| Transporting |
| Most people have a car, especially
women. However, to get a driving license the required minimum
salary is KD 250. You can get a good second hand car for a
cost of around 700 - 1000 KD. Most of the people depend entirely
on public transport. However, buses don't run on schedule,
and are used largely by the laboring class, workers from Egypt,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. Taxis get a bit expensive
if you try to use them everyday. Minimum fare is 1kd. You
can make arrangements with a private driver to take you to
and from work on a daily basis for a flat fee of around 30KD
a month (depend on the location and distance). |
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| For a single bachelor,
in this current salary scenario, if you are getting a salary
of around 200 KD, your monthly spending will be as follows:
Room rent: 35.000 (Sharing with other bachelors)
Food : 30.000 KD
Transport : 30.000 KD
Other expenses : 20.000 KD
Total : 115.000
Your savings : 85.000 KD = 12,000 IRS (Approx.)
If you are with your family, the minimum recommended salary
range is 450 KD.
This is only
a rough data and the exact expense is totally individual.
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| As the
rules are changing very often, please check with the
officials for latest rules and procedures. |
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| www.indiansinkuwait.com.
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