If you’re planning to come to Kuwait shortly, congratulations- you will join a big community of Indians in Kuwait.
There is nothing to worry about because you will find yourself surrounded by people from your home country and you can enjoy their companionship.
Why?
Let’s see some information based on a report generated by the Embassy of India in Kuwait:
Statistics show that more than a million Indian people live in Kuwait legitimately. However, about ten thousand Indian citizens have overstayed their visas and are currently living in the country illegally.
Some notable trends in the most recent data are:-
1- The number of Indians living in Kuwait is increasing at a rate of 5.6 percent yearly.
While the Egyptian expat community is larger, Indians in Kuwait remain the largest and the most popular.
2- There are over 7.5 million Indian males in Kuwait, but only 2.5 million Indian females, resulting in a male-dominated population.
3- About 52.3% of all working Indians are employed in the private sector (i.e. construction workers, technicians, engineers, doctors, chartered accountants, IT experts, etc.).
In addition, close to 1.16 million spouses and children rely on their income. About 60,000 Indian children attend one of the 23 Indian schools across the country. In Kuwait, Indian students cannot attend a university because there is none.
4- In India, 3.27 million people out of every 10 million are employed in the domestic service industry (i.e. drivers, gardeners, cleaners, nannies, cooks and housemaids). They can’t bring family members with them.
5- The government of Kuwait employs over 28,000 Indians in a wide range of fields (nurses, engineers in national oil companies, a few scientists, etc.).
There is still a significant need for Indian nurses in Kuwait.
Indians in Kuwait: What You Need to Know
The Kuwaitis highly value Indians in Kuwait because of their excellent work ethics, sincerity, diligence, and respect for the law. The summertime in Kuwait is highly challenging for workers and residents (as in most Gulf States).
The following recommendations are given for the protection of Indian people seeking employment in Kuwait and the welfare of Indian workers in Kuwait in light of the number of complaints received by the Embassy. Also, these tips are very important to everyone who wants to live in Kuwait as an expat.
VIDEO CHECKING THE HIRING PROCESS:
Know that your Recruiting Agent is reliable.
Get a copy of their original registration certificate from the Protector General of Emigrants at India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Please do not engage in business with any until you verify his current registration has not been suspended or canceled. If you have any questions, contact the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi (Tel: +91-2687 4250; email: [email protected]) or one of the Protectors of Emigrants (POEs) (https://emigrate.gov.in).
You can check if a recruiting agency or a Kuwaiti company is on the blocklist or registered with the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi at https://emigrate.gov.in.
The Emigration Act of 1983 and its implementing regulations expressly forbid the use of subagents. To verify that the recruiting agency is acting within the bounds of the agreement between the sponsor and the recruiting agency, you should request to see the Demand Letter and Power of Attorney from the overseas employer.
Read the Employment Agreement, which lays out the terms of employment, including salary, benefits, and other compensation.
On their website, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait lists the minimum pay for various Indian employees planning to find work in Kuwait (www.indembkwt.gov.in).
It is against the rules to issue emigrant clearance to women under 30 (ECR Category) who want to work as a housemaid, domestic workers, hairdressers, beauticians, dancers, stage artists, laborers, general workers, etc.
VERIFY BEFORE LEAVING:
- A passport with a minimum validity of six months is required.
- Your passport must either have a Visa stamp or include your Visa documentation.
- Verify that your VISA is valid in the same category as the position for which you were recruited.
- You must always keep your passport and visa in a safe place.
- It’s a good idea to have a duplicate passport and visa on hand at all times, and you should also consider leaving copies with trusted friends and family back in India.
- In addition to the original signed Employment Contract between you and your Kuwaiti employer, you must also have a copy of the contract attested by the India Embassy (ECR category only).
You need Employment Visa No. 18 to work in the private sector and Employment Visa No. 20 to work in the domestic industry.
It is important to note that Visa No. 14 (commercial visit visa) is only valid for a limited time (about three months), does not guarantee a transfer to Visa No. 18, and does not allow for extended stay past the visa’s expiration date. Please get in touch with the Embassy of India in Kuwait (email: [email protected]; [email protected]) to confirm the authenticity of the visa they issued you.
INSIDE THE NATION WHERE YOU CURRENTLY FIND WORK:
- If at all feasible, keep hold of your passport and employment agreement at all times.
- Acquire a Civil ID and a Residence Permit (Iqama).
- Don’t put your signature on any other blank paper or Employment Contract.
- Strikes and other forms of agitation are not tolerated. According to Kuwaiti labor rules, this is forbidden. You risk being apprehended, jailed, and ultimately deported.
- Don’t bring drugs unless you have a prescription for them.
- Communicate regularly with the Indian Embassy in Kuwait. Do not wait or seek advice from unofficial sources before reporting any issues related to the non-payment or delayed payment of salaries, compensations, or any other concern.
FORMS REQUIRED BY CUSTOMS:
- At Kuwait International Airport, checked baggage is subjected to stringent inspection.
- Make sure you’re not carrying any intoxicating substances or alcohol.
- There is a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol.
- Use of it is a punishable offense that carries severe consequences.
- Do not accept any packages without first checking their contents; bringing in any alcohol or illegal drugs could result in severe consequences such as arrest, incarceration, or deportation once you arrive at your place of employment.
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