ShareBy Ghadeer Ghloum & Chidi Emmanuel
KUWAIT: In a bid to regulate the private sector and correct the population imbalance, First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah issued a decree allowing private sector workers to take up part-time jobs in addition to their official jobs. The decree, which went into effect this month, proposes a maximum of four hours per day for the second job, with permission from the employer and an additional permit from the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM).
The new rule is aimed at making use of the manpower already available in Kuwait instead of recruiting more workers from abroad, thus addressing the demographic imbalance in the country and at the same time meeting the needs of the job market. Reacting to the new rule, Fawaz Ajmi, a Kuwaiti businessman, welcomed it as the right step in the right direction. “This is a good step. It will reduce the burden and the bureaucratic process of hiring more workers. We can employ the workers already in the country. It will save costs for employers and add extra cash for Kuwait’s expats,” Ajmi said.
The new rule also allows employers to permit employees to work online in jobs that can be done remotely without the need to report to the workplace in accordance with the regulations set to safeguard the rights of employers. “This is a significant move that is set to reshape the lives and opportunities of expats in Kuwait. This new decision opens new avenues for personal growth, financial stability and a thriving work-life balance,” Ibrahim Ali, an expatriate engineer in Kuwait, told Kuwait Times.
Ali expressed a positive attitude towards the part-time rules, as he sees it as an opportunity for higher income for those who have the ability and passion, especially for recent graduates who are trying to build their finances and make their way in life. He also explained the situation before the rule. “I graduated as an engineer from a university in Lebanon and came to work in Kuwait, where my parents are residing. I turned to the private sector, as it is the first choice for expatriates in Kuwait. But unfortunately, the salary was not satisfactory and greatly belied my expectations. Despite my university degree and special major, I only received a salary of KD 350, especially when the cost of living is so high,” he said.
Ali elaborated on the bright side that this permission brings to fresh employees. “Such a law may be a source of higher income and a better standard of living, as it serves as a solution to low salaries, in addition to being an additional source of income, which is very important in our current time, where no one should rely on a single source of income,” he said.
Olivia George, a single mother and expatriate working as a teacher in Kuwait, said: “To be honest, I don’t have a set plan for what I will do as a part-time job yet, but I will definitely search for something to do. This is a great step and supports the livelihood of expatriates in Kuwait. I am a single mother of two, and I work hard to provide them with a decent living. I have always wished that my salary would be higher, but I am grateful for this option as it at least serves as a beacon of hope for those who are struggling.”
Recently, Kuwait toughened measures against companies that hire workers who are not under their sponsorship and expatriates who are working outside in violation of the residency law. The measures range from huge fines to deportation of the expat workers. Foreigners make up around 3.2 million of Kuwait’s overall population of 4.6 million. “The new rule will ease the pain and frustration. It is a win-win for both the employers and the employees. We thank the government for such a wonderful initiative,” Adnan Mohammed, a Kuwaiti entrepreneur, told Kuwait Times.
