KUWAIT CITY, July 18: Labor departments at the Public Authority for Manpower has prevented the transfer of work permits (from one company to another) for those working in private sector who are over 65 years old despite the absence of formal or institutional decisions by the sector’s assistant undersecretary in that regard, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The daily quoting informed sources affirmed that no decision would be issued to prohibit transfer of the aforementioned age group in private sector, while the department managers confirmed receiving verbal instructions to apply the decision and prevent the transfer of only those who do not have university degree and exceeding age 65 but they’ll continue to renew the work permit for the sponsor himself.

The same sources stated that those over 65 years old having accredited university degrees are allowed to transfer and renew the work permit but some employees have started refusing related transactions despite the absence of formal or verbal instructions for that purpose.

They stated those falling within the age group who are capable of working cannot be stopped, as long as the private sector or their employers need them or consider them among the staff. On the existence of new decisions concerning the process of transferring, renewing and recruiting new workers, sources stated that measures are in place to amend some legal articles in a way that guarantees the protection of workers while modifying the demographics. Labor force statistics reveal that 85,623 residents are above 60 years, of whom 53,814 are between the age group of 60 and 64, constituting 7,389 female.

Also, 31,809 residents are over 64 years old and 28,277 of them are men. It showed that 17,117 of residents who are 60 years old are working as company managers, officials and specialists in private sector, as well as education, health and other sectors, which represents 20 percent of the total number.

It is noteworthy that 21,303 of residents who are more than 60 years old work in cumbersome jobs such as fashion show services, promotion, sales, personal and protective services, according to the statistics of the authority. This is in addition to 1,700 workers extracting construction and metals, 367 farmers and fishermen.

Also, 5,000 are in mineral industry and machinery, 6,000 are drivers and mobile equipment operators, and 7,700 regular workers. The Residency Affairs General Department in the Ministry of Interior allowed the extension of the expired passports of expatriates provided they obtain the necessary documents from their embassies, reports Al-Jarida daily quoting Director of Residency Affairs Department in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate Colonel Dr Saud Al-Tami. He explained the extension is possible only if the expatriates with expired passports obtain the extension stamp and validity of data certificate from their embassies. He said the certificate should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so the concerned expatriates can renew their passports for a period of two years.