Kuwait expat bill cleared: The disastrous impact this can have on lakhs of Indians
Given the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the recent and persistent slump in oil prices, Kuwait's new law is geared towards protecting the job security of its citizens, at the cost of expats.
Kuwait's new law, if passed, will leave the futures of lakhs of India's migrants in the balance. | Photo Credit: PTI
Key Highlights
- Indians are, by far, the largest expat cohort within the nation, numbering approximately 1.4 million
- The Indian embassy in Kuwait estimates that approximately 28,000 Indians are employed by the Kuwaiti government itself, in skilled and semi-skilled professions like engineering, nursing and scientific research
- By some estimates, nearly $4.8 billion was received from migrant workers in the nation, into India, in 2018
India's migrant workers in the nation of Kuwait have been dealt a calamitous blow as the Gulf nation seeks to pass an expat quota bill that will see the numer of foreign workers in the country markedly reduced in the coming years.
The bill which has been deemed consitutional by the legislative committee of the country's National Assembly, has yet to become enshrined into law, but could see the percentage of Indians working in Kuwait drop to 15 per cent, calling into question the futures of between seven and eight lakh Indian migrants.
Kuwait has a population of 4.8 million, 70 per cent of which is made up by its expatriate community. Indians are, by far, the largest expat cohort within the nation, numbering approximately 1.4 million. The Indian embassy in Kuwait estimates that approximately 28,000 Indians are employed by the Kuwaiti government itself, in skilled and semi-skilled professions like engineering, nursing and scientific research.
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'Demographic imbalance'
The new draft law is, reportedly, designed to address what Kuwaiti lawmakers have labelled a 'demographic imbalance.' Indians are not the only ones affected, with the Egyptian contingent within the nation also now facing grave uncertainty.
Although no formal plans over the implementation of the legislation have been drawn up as yet, there have been reports that the country may choose to gradually cut down its expat population over the next few years. Nevertheless, this will have huge implications for the Indian workers employed in the state, many of whom are already suffering from unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What's more, Kuwait is also a large source of remittances into India. By some estimates, nearly $4.8 billion was received from migrant workers in the nation, into India, in 2018. Given the fallout of the pandemic, coupled with the slump in oil prices, Kuwait, along with other Gulf nations, may no longer be able to heavily subsidise its citizens as they have done in the past, which would then, naturally, translate to putting them to work. This, unfortunately for India's migrant workers, is likely to come at the cost of expat jobs.
Plans to address the issue of Kuwait's disproportionate expat community have been in the pipeline for some time now, with the Kuwaiti government, in April, announcing a 'pardon plan' to allow illegal migrants to leave the country without facing any punitive measures.