By A Saleh

KUWAIT: A decision by the Public Authority of Manpower on renewing or transferring work permits of expat residents aged 60 years and above without degrees will remain in place at least till next year, because the decision was to be implemented for a year and then reviewed according to the market situation and studies to be conducted in this regard.

PAM's decision included allowing the renewal or transfer of work permits for private sector employees for this category of expat workers provided they pay an annual fee of KD 250 in addition to full private health insurance and other charges, amounting to nearly KD 850. Sources said PAM said a technical team followed the processing of work permits of this segment of workers and prepared a preliminary report that confirms there is no need for new amendments to the decision due to the fact that it achieved the goals it was issued for and gained PAM's acceptance as well as that of the concerned labor workers.

Sources said new categories will not be added to those exempt from this decision, which include husbands and children of Kuwaiti women, foreign wives of Kuwaitis and those holding Palestinian travel documents, in addition to residents who have comprehensive non-revokable insurance policies from a company listed on the bourse. They said PAM received proposals and ideas from the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry and private sector institutions to introduce changes, but the study recommended not changing anything.

Meanwhile, sources said there are plans to withdraw a proposal to naturalize foreign wives of Kuwaitis by the parliamentary interior and defense committee to restudy it and introduce many amendments that call for not naturalizing them and instead grant other advantages to them. The sources said the proposed law was not passed by the National Assembly, which includes amendments to the current law including that the wife of the Kuwaiti can get citizenship after 18 years of marriage if she has at least one child.

The sources said the interior ministry has been asked to prepare a new proposal and submit it to the government, which includes permanent residency for non-Kuwaiti wives of Kuwaitis, priority in employment and medical treatment and free education, without naturalization.