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RABI ALAWWAL 11,1440 AH MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2018 24º 28 Pages Max 150 Fils Established 1961 Min 16º ISSUE NO: 17686 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Italian air force ‘Frecce Tricolori’ Record-breaking 7,500 runners take Giant Damien Hirst sculptures Somalia holds first boxing 3 presents air show on Gulf Road 14 part in Gulf Bank 642 Marathon 24 catch eye at Qatari hospital 25 competition since civil war Kuwait mulling plan to cut 1.5 million expats in 7 yrs Thousands of job titles of expats with unendorsed or no degrees cancelled By B Izzak mum of 1.5 million without even considering were neither endorsed by their own countries natural growth and any future recruitment. nor by Kuwait’s foreign ministry. KUWAIT: Kuwait could soon implement a The expected plan also envisions that the The sources added that the manpower roadmap to reduce the number of expatriates number of any foreign community must not authority recently mandated the presence of by at least 1.5 million over the next seven years exceed 25 percent of the Kuwaiti population. the original degree officially endorsed by both in a plan that aims at achieving a demographic If this item is to be strictly implemented, at the country of origin and Kuwait to renew balance between Kuwaitis and expatriates, a least 600,000 Indians and 300,000 expats’ work permits, especially after the leading newspaper reported yesterday. Citing Egyptians, the two communities that largely authority found that thousands do not actually informed sources, Al-Qabas said that the fatwa exceed the expected limit, must be among hold university degrees or hold unendorsed or and legislative department, the government’s those who will be reduced. The proposal does unattested certificates. The sources said a con- legal body, has asked opinions from govern- not explain the mechanism for implementing siderable number of expats refused to stay in ment agencies on the possibility of setting up a the cuts and who will be included. It does not Kuwait and preferred leaving after their job national committee for the organization and mention whether the 120,000 bedoons or titles were changed, which will greatly help in management of the demographic structure. stateless people will be considered expats. It adjusting Kuwait’s demography by only keep- The committee, which was proposed by does not also say if the cuts will involve ing highly-qualified expats in the country MPs, will enjoy extensive powers to propose 650,000 domestic helpers. without any exceptions. and implement plans to make Kuwaitis 50 per- Based on previous Kuwaitis attempts, the The manpower authority is also planning to cent of the population, with expatriates not proposed plan appears to be far-fetched and ban issuing permits to expats with university exceeding that number. The number of expa- highly unrealistic, especially to be achieved in degrees entering Kuwait to work in the private triates now is just over 3.244 million and just seven years. According to the proposed sector unless they have a minimum of ‘good’ Kuwaitis around 1.4 million, based on figures plan, 10 percent of expatriate employees in the grades, according to informed government published by the Public Authority for Civil government must be replaced by Kuwaitis sources. Last month, a senior lawmaker said Information (PACI). every year, in addition to five percent in the over 30 percent of expats living and working KUWAIT: Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Based on current population growth rates private sector, both seemingly unrealistic goals. in the country are “not useful”, and the gov- Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah received at Dar Salwa yesterday visiting Saudi Royal for Kuwaitis, they are expected to reach 1.7 Meanwhile, government sources told Al-Rai ernment must start practical measures to Court Advisor Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahd. During the meeting, Prince Turki million after seven years, the target of the pro- newspaper the manpower authority has can- reduce the number of foreigners. MP conveyed a verbal message to HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- posed plan. This would mean that the number celled thousands of job titles of expats work- Mohammad Al-Dallal told reporters that the Sabah from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud regarding bilateral relations of expatriates must be equal to Kuwaitis, or 1.7 ing in the private sector in leading positions large number of expatriates put major pres- and greetings to Sheikh Nasser on his return from a recent treatment trip. — KUNA million. If this equation is to materialize, the because some of them were found to be not sure on essential services and infrastructure number of expats must be reduced by a mini- holding university degrees or their degrees like health, traffic and others. their economies through China’s 2013 News in brief Kuwait, China “Belt and Road” initiative and revival of the historic Silk Road, he said. Kuwait’s participation in the Silk Road project sign Silk City, reflects HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s strategic 5 islands MoU “New Kuwait 2030” vision, which aims to transform the country into a financial, KUWAIT: Kuwait and China signed a commercial and cultural hub at regional memorandum of understanding yester- and international levels, Hayat said. day on forming a mechanism for the Reviving the Silk Road project will development of Silk City and five restore Kuwait’s commercial and eco- Kuwaiti islands. The signing ceremony nomic role in the region, especially since was held at the National Development the country enjoys a distinctive geo- and Reform Commission’s headquarters graphic location, and also contribute to in Beijing, Kuwait’s Ambassador to China the prosperity of the global economy, Samih Hayat told KUNA. Head of the added the Kuwaiti diplomat. There is apparatus for developing the planned mutual and substantial consensus Silk City and Boubyan Island Faisal Al- between the “New Kuwait 2030” vision Medlej signed the deal from the Kuwaiti and the “Belt and Road” initiative to Two kids killed in accident side, while NDRC’s Vice Chairman Ning revive the Silk Road and establish com- Jizhe signed for the Chinese side, added mercial, vital and safe zones to serve Hayat. countries across the land and sea routes, KUWAIT: The interior ministry’s relations and BEIJING: Head of the apparatus for developing Silk City and Boubyan Island Faisal Al-Medlej Prior to the signing, the two sides he said. security media department said two children were and NDRC Vice Chairman Ning Jizhe shake hands after signing an MoU yesterday. — KUNA killed when a vehicle driven by their mother flipped stressed the importance of boosting Continued on Page 24 over along Fahaheel Expressway. According to initial reports, on arriving at the scene, paramedics found one child had died and the mother and three other children were in critical condition. The injured were Bloody Iraqi rushed to Adan Hospital, where another child passed Saudi king away. — Hanan Al-Saadoun tribal custom hosts Iraqi is ‘terrorism’ president BAGHDAD: A bloody, age-old custom used by Iraq’s powerful tribes to mete RIYADH: Saudi King Salman welcomed Iraq’s new out justice has come under fire, with President Barham Saleh yesterday on his first offi- authorities classifying it as a “terrorist cial visit to the kingdom, amid a warming of ties act” punishable by death. For centuries, between the Arab neighbors after years of strain. Iraqi clans have used their own system The king hosted a lunch and “discussed regional to resolve disputes, with tribal digni- developments” with Saleh, the official Saudi Press taries bringing together opposing sides Agency said, after the Iraqi leader’s arrival in Riyadh following a visit to Saudi Arabia’s archrival to mediate in de facto “hearings”. If one MISHKHAB, Iraq: Members of an Iraqi clan gather inside a straw Iran. Saleh, a 58-year-old moderate Kurd elected to side failed to attend such a meeting, the tent in this town south of Najaf on Nov 15, 2018. — AFP Continued on Page 24 the largely ceremonial role last month, was on an Continued on Page 24 Fake cop escapes after fight hub”. In the past year, gas has started flowing from four major fields off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, including KUWAIT: An Asian told police he was mugged by a Undersea gas the vast Zohr field, inaugurated with great ceremony by person claiming to be a policeman, who stopped him President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. and asked for his ID, then searched the vehicle and fires Egypt’s Discovered in 2015 by Italian energy giant Eni, Zohr is robbed him. The victim said as passersby attempted the biggest gas field so far found in Egyptian waters. The to catch the suspect, he stabbed him in his right hand immediate upshot has been that since September, the Arab with a sharp object, but he was able to grab him and energy dreams world’s most populous country has been able to halt get his money back. The suspect then tried to carjack CAIRO: Egypt is looking to use its vast, newly tapped imports of liquefied natural gas, which last year cost it a vehicle driven by a man with a child on board and undersea gas reserves to establish itself as a key ener- some $220 million per month. Coming after a financial cri- threatened him with the knife, but the driver refused gy exporter and revive its flagging economy. sis that pushed Cairo in 2016 to take a $12 billion loan from to budge.