KUWAIT: Kuwaitis’ cost of living would increase by as high as 100 percent if it was not for expatriate labor forces in Kuwait, economic researcher Mohammad Ramadan said in a recent study.

Prices of products and services are cheap locally because of cheap labor, compared with higher prices by in western oil countries such as Norway, he said.

The study shows the dire need for expatriate labor in vital sectors including the health and education ministries, which saves the country money, as Kuwaiti labor forces demand much higher salaries in addition to social allowance. Meanwhile, the study showed that domestic helper are the only category of expatriate workers in Kuwait that can be considered expendable. —Al-Qabas