The demographic structure

The demographic structure issue returned to the top of events in the Kuwaiti society after being brought up at the National Assembly lately. New signs appeared with a governmental and parliamentary agreement to reduce the percentage of expatriates compared with citizens in the coming years. So far, there is nothing wrong with that. Some people among members of the Kuwaiti society reacted to that on social media with words that can only be described as trivial, indicating their ignorance through their impolite reactions. Not only are such ignorant comments unrealistic, but they are far away from the opinion of the majority of citizens who see honorable expat as partners in the country’s advancement in various fields. In addition, there are many job fields that the Kuwaiti labor market remains in dire need of foreign workers to fill, as those jobs are of great importance for our society.

I will mention, for example, some of workers who assume the role of domestic helpers and care for children. There are also the garbage collectors whose job is cleaning our daily leftovers; and without them, we would not know what will happen to us. You can take the trash crisis in Beirut as an example. Anyone who looks at the amount of trash littered in our streets after the national day celebration, sees how low the level of awareness of many citizens is about this most dear occasion, and their wrong expression of happiness during it.

Teaching is also another important profession where expatriate workers are needed, so does medicine in various specialties. When you move around the corridors of hospitals, you will not see a Kuwaiti doctor except in rare cases, and you hardly hear the Kuwaiti dialect among them. You would only find citizens in administrations, including secretaries.

I am writing this article while in the hospital, and I saw the doctors, nurses, lab technicians and those who perform and laboratory tests, are expat specialists of all nationalities. May Allah reward them for their efforts and care of our health.

Moving to the construction sector, including in major projects and even private residence, who other that expats stand under the scorching sun and in all circumstances at construction sites? While the citizen enjoys air conditioning, and does not praise his God for the bounties He gave him.

We are in need of them, and should not make their lives miserable because they are our brothers and equal to us in creation and humanity. They left their families back in their home countries and live in foreign land to improve their income, and if it is a must to impose fees, then we should not overburden them because it will affect their situation and psychology. Instead of that, parliament members should pave the road for the country’s children and remove obstacles so that they can work in all job sectors and specialties, and we can be self-sufficient by thinking about balancing the population structure. May Allah protect Kuwait and its people against all evil. —Translated by Kuwait Times