KUWAIT CITY, July 15: Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has suspended the issuance of work permits in spite of the severe shortage observed in the labor market because more than two million personnel will enter the country if the door is open, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting a reliable source.

He added the ministry allowed transfer of commercial visit visas to work permits to ease burdens on the companies and institutions facing the problem of employee shortage.

Meanwhile, the Audit Bureau has asked the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to file a report on some 522 transactions that appear to have been misplaced at Jahra Labor Department, as it blames the head of division at the department for losing those files.

In a related development, Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor reneged on its decision to transfer some employees who lack discipline from Jahra labor unit to fill vacancies at the departments handling government contracts due to parliamentary pressure mounting on the ministry.

The source added the ministry has taken adequate steps to deal with problems the labor departments face to create a balance in the percentage of workers at the sector. He noted the Capital and Hawalli labor departments suffer severe shortage of personnel, while Jahra and Ahmadi departments have accumulated personnel.