Challenges for new expats

When entering Kuwait for the first time, one can only wonder about the right source of guidance for doing things correctly.
There are difficulties like getting a driving license, getting married, getting a loan, getting labor rights and dues, moving from one address to another, paying traffic violations, making family or commercial visas, or renting an apartment or leaving it …etc.These issues are not limited to Western expatriates alone; they concern Arab expatriates too.
The above mentioned difficulties are very much influenced by the type of employers. If we have a responsible and trustworthy one, for sure most of the above mentioned points will be easily resolved and supported, while it will be the opposite if employers are corrupt and using the company to misuse and mislead people by mainly selling visas on the black market.
That just means that the irresponsible companies must be monitored and inspected carefully, in a way that they can be eliminated and weeded out from the market by first fining them and then canceling their license.
However, the big companies in Kuwait must also contribute to their social responsibilities and be an example to be followed by the small and medium ones.
Also, given the increased number of expatriate workers, we need in Kuwait to separate social affairs from labor matters at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. To make sure of that, we can establish a new public authority for labor to do better monitoring of the labor sector, upgrade the quantity of the supporting public employees and the quality of service.
Frankly, with that in mind, we will for sure make a more positive impact in the country, like having a more welcoming working environment and with less headache.
No doubt, urgent and condensed efforts in that area will improve the social and general wellbeing of the work force in Kuwait to a much better condition!
By Labeed Abdal

labeed.abdal@gmail.com

http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2012/04/17/challenges-for-new-expats/