KUWAIT: Senior officials from the Public Authority of Manpower and the interior ministry held a high-level meeting on Monday to coordinate policies and mechanisms for implementing the new residency law that was implemented about two weeks ago. The meeting, Chaired by PAM Director General Rabab Al-Ossaimi, aimed at increasing coordination between the authority and the interior ministry to build a regulated and flexible labor market, said a statement by the authority.
Discussions also focused on achieving integration under the new residency legislation between economic, regulatory and security aspects in a manner that serves public interests and supports the country’s sustainable development goals, the statement said. Kuwait began implementing a new residency law on Dec 23 that introduced new residency and visit visa rules, raised fees on most services for expats and also increased penalties for violators. On the same day, new fees for health insurance were enforced for expats. Health insurance is essential to obtain residency for the first time or for renewal.
The manpower authority also said on Monday it has introduced a new package of electronic services through its “Ashal” portal, allowing those services to be completed online without the need to visit the authority’s offices. The new services include issuing a work permit to transfer a self-sponsored residency (article 24) to other residency types, renewal of the work permit of a business partner, transferring a worker to a business partner and issuing a work permit to change status.
They also include issuing a work permit to transfer a visit or entry visa into residency and transferring from a business partner to a worker. Those who want to avail of the services can enter Ashal portal for companies and upload all required documents. The authority’s staff will accept or reject applications based on applicable rules.
