Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KUWAIT4514
2004-12-27 13:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

POSITIVE REPORT ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN KUWAIT

Tags:  ECIN ECON ELAB KU PGOV 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004514 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2014
TAGS: ECIN ECON ELAB KU PGOV
SUBJECT: POSITIVE REPORT ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN KUWAIT

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004514

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2014
TAGS: ECIN ECON ELAB KU PGOV
SUBJECT: POSITIVE REPORT ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN KUWAIT

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) The Ambassador discussed the employment situation in
Kuwait during a December 27, 2004 meeting with Minister of
Communications, Planning and State for Development of
Administrative Affairs Shaykh Ahmed Abdullah al-Ahmed
al-Sabah. When asked his opinion on Kuwait unemployment, the
Minster responded that "it's not as bad as it may seem."
According to him, of the reported 18,000-20,000 Kuwaitis
reported as unemployed this year, only 3,000 of them are
actively looking for work. The remaining are either
housewives not seeking work or individuals unqualified to
work. For those 3,000 seeking work, the government has over
9,000 open jobs available per year. For many for these jobs
(doctors, nurses),there were few qualified applicants.


2. (C) The Minister also pointed out that 8,300 positions
were open in the private sector and that the percentage of
Kuwaitis working in the private sector is increasing. When
the Ambassador asked if he though "Kuwaitization" was
working, the Minister responded by saying that Kuwaitis must
be encouraged to work in the private sector. He continued by
saying that in order to encourage Kuwaitis into the private
sector the laws needed to be changed to protect workers more
and that the government needed to make its jobs less
attractive. One reform that the Minister cited as an example
is a recent reduction in the number of sick days for public
employees.


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LEBARON