Kuwait imposes ban on visa transfers to private sector

The Public Authority for Manpower in Kuwait has issued a directive to ban the transfer of government workers to the private sector.

The decision to ban government-to-private sector transfers exempts Kuwaiti women’s husbands and children, wives of Kuwaitis, Palestinians with travel documents and those in specialised technical professions in the healthcare industry who are transferring to licenced facilities to provide medical services, such as doctors, nurses and others in the medical field.

The Authority has also levied restrictions on the transfer of dependent visas to work ones in the private sector, Kuwait Times reported.

Only certain categories of expats are allowed to transfer dependent visas to work in the private sector, including husbands and children of Kuwaiti women, those born in Kuwait, Palestinians with travel documents and those having at least a diploma after the secondary stage from Kuwaiti educational establishments.

The Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower Ahmad Al-Moussa said the decisions were based on the instructions of Social Affairs Minister and State Minister for Economic Affairs Mariam Al-Aqeel.

The transfer of employees from the private sector to the government should comply with procedures followed by the manpower authority and the Civil Service Commission, Moussa said.

Earlier this month, local media reports suggested that Kuwait’s Interior Ministry was “unlikely” to extend the validity of residence visas beyond August 31.

Meanwhile Kuwait’s Public Manpower Authority has confirmed that it will stop issuing work permits for expats aged 60 years and above who do not hold a university degree.

Read: Kuwait unlikely to extend visas beyond Aug 31, to stop issuing work permits for certain expats aged over 60