Kuwait imposes new fees on expatriate laborers

The Kuwaiti government decided to impose new fees on expatriate laborers to finance a fund for encouraging employment of Kuwaitis.

Kuwaiti diplomatic sources in Cairo said the government will present a draft resolution to the Ummah Council (the parliament) that calls for imposing a tax of 300 Kuwaiti dinars ($1000 US) annually on every foreign laborer, assuring that these amounts will be specified to present aid to the Kuwaiti private sector to encourage the employment of graduates of Kuwaiti schools, institutes and faculties.

Foreigner's represent 66% of Kuwait's population which is estimated at 2.29 million citizens, among which are 285,000 Indian workers and 273,000 Egyptians.