Kuwait | New change in work permit renewal process

Kuwaiti authorities have said that accreditation of expatriates’ education degrees is necessary for renewing their work permits.

The condition was announced by the Public Authority of Manpower that urged employers to apply via its electronic portal Ashal (Easier) for having their employees’ degrees accredited, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas reported. According to the arrangement, employers are required to apply with an original copy of the degree for the accreditation process.

The government agency has exempted the expatriate engineers whose degrees have been accredited by the Kuwaiti Society of Engineers.

Foreigners account for nearly 3.4 million of Kuwait’s over 4.8 million population. Kuwait has recently set new controls to regulate its labour market amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, several state institutions in Kuwait have disclosed plans to limit hiring foreigners, prioritising Kuwaitis’ employment as part of efforts to redress a demographic balance in the country.