Kuwaitization: A Mirage or Reality Lubna Al-Kazi, Ph.D. Kuwait University

Nationality and Sex N%N% Kuwaiti162, , Male111, , Female51, , Non-Kuwaiti776, ,753, Male624, ,382, Female151, , Total Labour Force938, ,085, Total Male736, ,567, Total Female202, , Table 1 Percentage Distribution of Kuwaitis / Non-Kuwaitis in the Labour Force 1994 to % males and 16% of females – not stated % are labourers (715,000) % are labourers (domestic servants). Sources: 1994: Progress of demographic features in the State of Kuwait , p : Annual Statistical Abstract, 2009, Kuwait. Ministry of Planning, p 110.

Age Groups – – – – – – – – – – Total Number104,121149,956 Table 2 Kuwaiti Female Participation Rate by Age Group Source: 2003 & 2008 Essential Features of the Population and Labour Force, June 2003, and Dec 2008, Ministry of Planning, Kuwait, p. 48.

Kuwaiti Female Participation Rate by Age Group Figure 1

Gender N%N%N% Male2, , , Female , Total2, , , Table 3 Unemployment Distribution for Kuwaitis by Sex Source: : Activating Kuwaiti Women’s Role in Society, Division of Planning and Future Studies, Feb, 2007, p Ministry of Planning, Kuwait, 2008: Annual Statistical Abstract, 2009, p. 110, Ministry of Planning, Kuwait.

Unemployment Distribution for Kuwaitis by Sex Figure 2 Source: 1995: Activating Kuwaiti Women’s Role in Society, Division of Planning and Future Studies, Feb, : Annual Statistical Abstract, 2009, p. 110, Ministry of Planning, Kuwait.

Kuwaitization The Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) was established in To deal with the crisis of Kuwaitis laid off from the Private Sector. To redistribute new entrants away from the government sector. The National Assembly passed the Law 19/2000 to encourage Kuwaiti to work in the Private Sector By paying an allowance to Kuwaiti workers in Private Sector in addition to their salary. KD. 50 social allowances for every child of the employee, similar to government employees. It state the percentage of Kuwaiti required in each economic activity. The MGRP also trains new recruits to write CVs and gives training to job seekers. It pays unemployment benefits for those seeking jobs for one year.

Economic Activity% Banks60 Communications56 Finance and Investment40 Child Care Centers30 Insurance16 Real Estate and Business15 Money Exchange13 Private Arabic School10 Private Foreign Schools5 Agriculture and Animal Husbandry2 Manufacturing Industries2 Table 4 Percent of National Work Force in Non-Government Sectors as required by Ministerial Decree 1104, in 2008.

Form of PaymentMalesFemalesTotal Social Allowance23,86927,15151,020 Unemployment or Job Search benefit Table 5 Kuwaitis receiving payment from MGRP, Source: Manpower and government restructuring Program (MGRP) State of Kuwait.

Percent of Unemployment among National Labour Force 2001 – 2010 Figure 3 Source: Manpower and government restructuring Program (MGRP) State of Kuwait.

New Recruits to Private Sector Table 6 Figure 4 Source: MRGP, Civil Service Commission, Kuwait

Table 7 Distribution of Kuwaitis and Non-Kuwaiti in the various sectors, Sectors Kuwaiti %Non-Kuwaiti %Kuwaiti %Non-Kuwaiti % MaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemaleMaleFemale Government Joint Private Family * Unemployed % 100 *Domestic Servants Sources: Annual Statistical Abstracts 2000 and 2009, Ministry of Planning, Kuwait.

YearMaleFemaleTotal Total Table 8 Kuwaiti New Recruits to Private Sector, 2001 – 2010 by Gender Source: MRGP, Civil Service Commission, Kuwait

Figure 5 Kuwaiti New Recruits in the National Bank of Kuwait, 2001 – 2010 by Gender

Total in Oil Companies KuwaitiNon-KuwaitiTotal MaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotal , ,081 % % Table 9 The Workforce in the oil sector by Nationality and Gender 2005 – 2011

Kuwait Social Security Social Security law was established in 1977 with minimum 15 years of service as the rule. 1992, Law was passed to add an age along with years of service as a condition. 1995, Law was repealed. 2001, Law was passed to put age as a condition along with years of service. 2003, Law was put into practice with graduate rise in age.  2011 – 43 years for women retiring.  Women - 50 years of age - Men - 55 years of age

Percent distribution of retired workers receiving pension by place of work,