The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt-Gen Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah recently announced the decision to raise the salary bracket from KD 450 to KD 500 for expats to bring their families in Kuwait.
The new decision highlights the need for expat residents to earn at least KD 500 in the country before they can sponsor their family and live with them in Kuwait. Otherwise, the decision encourages expats to live like bachelors as they will not be allowed to bring their families to live with them.
Gov’t Raises Minimum Salary Req’t to Sponsor Family in Kuwait
For many expats living in Kuwait, it is much more expensive especially to low-income people to send money to their families in another country while supporting themselves in Kuwait, and these expats think that they could save more if they only have one expenditure, as in the case when they have their families live with them in Kuwait rather than sending money abroad and keeping some for themselves, as shared in a report by the Arab Times Online.
While some residents find the decision wise and beneficial, the majority of expat residents find this insignificant as they are already sending their families back to their home countries because of the high cost of living.
According to reports, the minimum salary of expats in the country ranges from KD 350 to KD 700. The house rent, on the other hand, costs not less than KD 270 and the remaining salary will not be enough to cover emergency cases concerning their family, particularly the children.
Meanwhile, some expats in the country expressed their thoughts about the new decision.
For Najeh Abu Ali, another expatriate in Kuwait, the minimum salary of KD 500 is still not enough considering the high cost of house rent and education of the children.
Mr. Ali claimed, “The decision may serve Kuwait in the aspects of traffic congestion or population organization, but it is important to consider the issue from the humanitarian aspects of expatriate workers who receive a small amount compared to the fees imposed on them.”
Since 2017, Kuwait has been enforcing its “Kuwaitization” policy by replacing the expat labor force with nationals. This phenomenon has seen a significant drop in the number of expats entering or staying in the country over the past few years. This is aimed at boosting the nation’s economy by providing more jobs to citizens, who benefit the most from the country’s social system, economic programs, and benefits.