POSITIVE REPORT ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN KUWAIT

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. ********************************************* *** Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* *** LEBARON