Anti-expatriate sentiment in Kuwait.
Some Kuwaiti nationals are increasingly hostile to the presence of foreign nationals, who constitute two-thirds of the population. Certain vocal MPs are calling to reduce their number and tax those that remain. By contrast, the government is considering labour law reforms to assist expatriates: preventing visa sponsors from holding foreign workers’ passports and tackling the trade in their visas.
The persistent demographic imbalance will stoke further anti-expatriate rhetoric.
Kuwait, in common with some other Gulf states, will suffer an international image problem regarding foreign labour.
Without tackling the inadequacies of the Kuwaiti labour force, the emirate will remain heavily dependent on foreign workers.
