KUWAIT: A team formed by the Supreme Committee for Addressing Demographics, chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, is working on listing the work in which work permits can be canceled and not renewed for those who currently have them as part of the measures to reduce the number of marginal workers in the country without affecting the labor market and its needs.

According to official sources there are thousands of expatriates working in these businesses with work permits issued by the Manpower Authority, the first of which is street vendors. They constitute a burden on state services, without real benefit being provided to the market, especially as they work for themselves, sources said. They said that it is also a gateway to visa trade. Besides, cooperative societies and central markets cater to the same needs of the public and obtaining them does not require a large number of laborers.

The sources expected that at least 5,000 work permits can be canceled if the Supreme Committee for the Treatment of Demographics adopts the cancellation of these permits. They pointed out that the procedure to cancel such permits is the first step in this direction and it will be followed with cancellation of more work permits in other sectors soon in tune with the goals announced by the Manpower Authority. The Authority seeks to link work permits to specialization and academic qualification as the committee focuses on technical employment and reducing marginal employment in the country.