Mp Safa Al-hashim Affirmed Her Intention To Call For Imposing Taxes On Expats

03 February 2017 Kuwait

MP Safa Al-Hashim affirmed her intention to call for imposing taxes on expatriates, revealing that she will present a proposal in this regard Indicating that such a step has been taken in the United Arab Emirates, she said imposing taxes on expatriates is not just words but is linked with solutions to the current problem of population imbalance in the country.

MP Al-Hashim insisted that the current ratio of 1:3 of Kuwaitis versus expatriates is dangerous and will increase the burden on the infrastructure and services of the country. She indicated that increasing the minimum salary for Kuwaiti employees in the private sector will encourage citizens to take up jobs in that sector.

Stressed MP Al-Hashim stressed the need for bringing an end to the negative phenomenon of visa trading. She lamented that Kuwait does not impose tax on the remittances of expatriates, which amount to about KD 14 billion per year, adding that no tax is imposed on planes that cross the Kuwaiti skies.

Meanwhile, Head of parliament’s Legislative Committee MP Mohammad Al-Dallal said, “Expatriates are our brothers and no harm should come to them”. He expressed objection to sudden deportation or dismissal of expatriates from Kuwait, as such a step contracts religious values, moral principles and the provisions of the Kuwaiti Constitution.

Indicating that 40 percent of the private sector employees are expatriates, Al-Dallal said he wondered why Kuwaitis are not joining the private sector. In this regard, Annahar daily reported that sources revealed the government’s intention to present a study on the demographic issue during the parliamentary session on Thursday.

They explained that the study includes ways to reduce the number of expatriate workers. It focuses on specifying quotas for each nationality. The study also recommends ending recruitment of expatriates in the public sector except for rare specializations.

It suggests reforming the law on family visit visa, and obligating expatriates who are on governmental contracts to leave Kuwait after the relevant projects have ended.

Meanwhile, the Women Cultural Society held a forum on the problem related to population imbalance in Kuwait, during which all speakers agreed on the need to reject the recent calls for reform actions that negatively impact expatriates, reports Al-Seyassah daily. MP Adel Al-Damkhi said, “It is strange that we criticize the European Rightist parties when we are taking the same steps”. He urged the relevant authorities to curb any form of leniency when organizing residency laws as such a leniency is the reason behind the phenomenon of visa trade.

Meanwhile, social activist Dr. Ghadeer Asseri stressed that some of the releases and statements issued regarding this issue are “disgusting and enhance feelings of hatred in a racist manner”. She said practical actions are necessary for dealing with this issue such as limiting some specializations only for citizens such as security jobs. Dr Asseri lamented that visa trading is the major reason behind the current imbalance in the population structure of Kuwait, urging for the need to handle this problem through specific proper actions.

In addition, political activist Alia Al-Khaled indicated that the population imbalance issue is not a new one. She said, “According to official statistics, expatriates in 1965 constituted 36 percent. It was 27 percent in 1985 and 41 percent in 1995. Back then, it was easier to solve this problem”. Al-Khaled stressed the need for allotting a specific plan to fight the phenomenon of visa trading, based on which the visa traders are identified and necessary legal actions are taken against them

 

SOURCE : ARABTIMES

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