Expatriates... between economic need and human dignity
The issue of expatriates has become a subject of intense debate. Historically, Kuwait relied on openness, trade, and engagement with other peoples, and today more than a hundred nationalities work across various sectors, from construction, cleaning, and services to medicine, engineering, and education. As the modern state expanded, relying on foreign expertise and labor became essential to meet labor market needs, particularly in professions where local educational outputs are insufficient to cover demand.
Kuwait’s history confirms that expatriates were not a phenomenon limited to the oil era. Kuwait emerged as a maritime and commercial society linked to India, Iraq, Persia, East Africa, and other regions. As historical records note, the sea, trade, pearl diving, shipbuilding, and transportation formed the foundation of the economy. After the discovery of oil, the need for labor and expertise multiplied. Expatriates participated in building roads, housing, hospitals, and schools; thus, they were an integral part of Kuwait’s modernization journey, even though the nature of their roles varied across different economic stages.
It is natural for the state to establish clear policies regarding the number and types of workers, linking them to economic needs, and to prioritize citizens for jobs they can perform after appropriate qualification and training. However, expatriates should not be held responsible for recruitment policies or the trade of residency permits and shell companies, as occurred in the past. An expatriate who arrived with a legal contract and paid fees in search of work should not bear responsibility for being recruited and then left without employment or shelter.
Moreover, expatriates are not a monolithic group; every society contains both the virtuous and the errant. Therefore, accountability should be based on behavior and violations. Anyone who commits a crime or breaks the law must be punished according to the law, whether citizen or resident, while those who achieve excellence or distinguish themselves in their work should receive appropriate recognition.
On the other hand, the challenges faced by some expatriates, particularly low-income workers, cannot be ignored. Issues related to housing, wages, recruitment, and working conditions deserve serious attention. Steps are already being taken in this regard, particularly concerning wages and the establishment of effective mechanisms to protect rights.
Experiences in advanced countries reveal that managing expatriates is not merely about recruiting labor, but about competing globally to attract talent. Many countries offer special visas for high-skilled workers, provide pathways for long-term residency, and attract doctors, engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and outstanding students. The reason is that exceptional individuals are not just employees; they can be sources of knowledge, investment, innovation, and job creation. This presents Kuwait with an opportunity to reform its policy to focus on the quality of required labor, not just the quantity.
The Indian community offers an example of the value of skilled migration. Some individuals of Indian origin have risen to lead major global companies, and entrepreneurs of Indian descent have founded successful businesses in various countries. This demonstrates that the true measure of success is competence and productivity, not nationality alone. When people manage their own funds, they seek the best doctors, managers, engineers, and consultants without first asking about their nationality. Therefore, the goal of the national economy should be to leverage the best talent, while ensuring citizen priority and preparing citizens for the future.
What is needed is a clear vision for the labor market that links education to the economy’s needs, develops citizens’ skills, recruits foreign workers according to actual demand, protects workers’ rights, and attracts rare talents. Kuwait first—this is natural—but achieving citizens’ interests requires knowledge, planning, and the rule of law. Foreign workers are not a substitute for citizens, nor are citizens adversaries to foreign workers. Both can be part of an organized economic system in which citizens are empowered, foreign workers are respected, the law is just, and the labor market is based on merit and need.
