KUWAIT: The Public Authority of Manpower announced that a two-month period allowing the transfer of domestic helpers to the private sector ended as of Thursday. The special period was granted from July 14 to allow employers to move domestic helpers under their sponsorship to jobs in the private sector under certain preconditions.

At the start of the grace period, the authority said it aimed at reducing the number of expats recruited from outside to help rebalance the demographic structure, which is grossly tilted in favor of foreigners. The authority did not disclose how many people benefited from the grace period.

Meanwhile, the higher nationality committee headed by Interior and Defense Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah recommended during a meeting on Thursday to withdraw citizenship from 90 Kuwaitis. The final decision will be made by the Council of Ministers. The committee said citizenship was withdrawn from six people because they were found to have obtained the citizenship of a second country, banned under Kuwaiti law.

Citizenship was withdrawn from one person for using illegal means to obtain it, while the citizenships of 83 people were withdrawn because they obtained it through illegal means or they were the children of people who obtained it through cheating.

The ministry of health on Thursday announced the cancellation of the Afya health insurance scheme offered to retired Kuwaitis, because the insurance company refused to extend the scheme for a few months. The ministry said it will take the company to court to demand compensation for damages caused by the company’s refusal. The scheme offers premium health care to thousands of retired citizens. The ministry assured the citizens covered by Afya health insurance services of its commitment to providing all primary, secondary and specialized healthcare services.

Separately, power cuts may affect some residential areas as technical teams are conducting emergency maintenance at some power generators, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said on Thursday. The areas that might be affected include Sabah Al-Ahmad, West Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Rumaithiya, Salwa, Bidaa and Farwaniya.