Kuwait Seeks to Replace 2,400 Foreign Teachers with Kuwaitis in “Kuwaitisation” Initiative and Kuwait to Revoke Residency of Foreign Teachers
Kuwait’s education authorities are in discussions with the Interior Ministry to cancel the residency permits of around 2,400 foreign teachers. This comes as part of a broader plan to replace them with Kuwaiti nationals.
1,900 Terminations and 500 Resignations
The number includes 1,900 teachers whose services were terminated under the “kuwaitisation” plan and an additional 500 who have opted for resignation. The Education Ministry is keen to finalize procedures swiftly to avoid fines or fees on non-Kuwaiti teachers whose services will be discontinued by the end of the current school year.
Teachers Given Three Months to Settle Entitlements
The Interior Ministry is providing the terminated expatriate teachers a three-month grace period to settle their entitlements and overall status in the country. The Ministry is working to finalize measures promptly to allow teachers to return to their home countries.
“Kuwaitisation” Initiative Replacing Foreign Workers with Locals
Under the replacement plan adopted three months ago, foreign teachers are being replaced with Kuwaitis, countering claims that replacement decisions were on hold for a year. Kuwait has ramped up its efforts to create jobs for its citizens and replace foreign employees in recent years.
Summary
- Kuwait’s education authorities aim to cancel the residency permits of 2,400 foreign teachers as part of a plan to replace them with Kuwaitis.
- The teachers include 1,900 whose services were terminated and 500 who chose to resign.
- Terminated teachers are given a three-month deadline to settle their entitlements and finalize their status in the country.
- The move is a part of the “kuwaitisation” initiative, aiming to replace foreign employees with local citizens.
- Despite the population of foreigners making up nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s total 4.6 million population, the number of new expatriates employed at government agencies dropped by 70% in 2022.
