Kuwait: Kuwaiti Minister Nawaf al Yassin has issued a decree requesting names of foreign employees to be listed as a preparatory step to replace them with citizens, as the country is seeking to curtail hiring migrant workers, local media reported.

The decree, part of the “Kuwaitisation policy”, obliges all sectors and departments at the ministry to provide the financial and administrative sector with names and data of expatriate employees covered by the policy of replacing foreigners with citizens. The list shall be made available by next Thursday.

The move comes in line with a decision issued by the state Civil Service Commission on “Kuwaitisation” of government jobs.

Increasing calls

The number of foreign employees at the Justice Ministry is not clear. Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s over 4.8 million population.

In recent months, there have been increasing calls in Kuwait for curbing foreigners’ employment to redress a demographic imbalance amid accusations that migrant workers have strained the country’s infrastructure facilities.

Several state institutions in Kuwait have recently disclosed plans to limit hiring foreigners, prioritising Kuwaitis’ employment.