Kuwait Times, Sunday, Sep 6, 2020 | Muharram 18, 1442
‘Tamkeen’ is one of steps to alter country’s demographics: Aqeel
Kuwait:
Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of State for Economic Affairs
of Kuwait Mariam Al-Aqeel confirmed the ‘Tamkeen’ initiative is among steps the
government is taking in its efforts to address the demographic imbalance in
Kuwait, especially amid the challenges created due to effects of the COVID-19
pandemic. Minister Aqeel spoke during the signing of the Tamkeen initiative
Thursday between the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and
Development and the Public Authority for Manpower with the International
Organization for Migration and the United Nations Development Organization in
Kuwait.
Aqeel said the initiative contributes to strengthening the global position of
Kuwait within the framework of Kuwait National Development Plan “New Kuwait
2035” by strengthening the national mechanisms for good governance of
immigration and facilitating the workers for an improved employment experience.
‘Tamkeen’ means fair employment of workers, and enabling national labor
recruitment agencies to update evidence-based policies and program national
efforts aimed at improving institutional governance for expatriate workers, she
added.
She indicated that initiative will address the weaknesses in the current system
that were evident during COVID-19. Aqeel praised the partnership between the
General Secretariat for Planning and Development and the Manpower Authority with
the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Development
Program in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Planning and
Development, Dr Khaled Al-Mahdi, said in a press statement on the sidelines of
the signing that the Kuwaiti government has submitted an integrated project to
the Human Resources Committee in the National Assembly to draw up a roadmap
towards reforming labor market imbalances, whose effects will be reflected in
modifying the demographic composition in the country.
The ‘Tamkeen’ initiative is a major part of the program and project set by the
Kuwaiti government that consists of several stages, the most important is the
existence of an international system that applies international conditions and
standards to approve the recruitment of workers into the country via the smart
system, he added.
Mahdi pointed out that this is the first initiative to introduce recruitment
agencies and to apply to international standards before workers enter the
country, in addition to their contribution to promoting fair employment in labor
markets. He indicated that the initiative will have a significant impact on the
country’s reputation as one of the pillars of the development plan and will
contribute in elevating Kuwait’s status in international forums.