At the Humanitarian Friendship Association, we have, like many others, extended substantial financial aid to numerous residents in need, particularly those who are destitute or earn low incomes. However, we were shocked to encounter cases such as that of a driver earning a reported salary of just 75 Kuwaiti dinars, as documented in official government records. This amount is supposed to cover not only his family’s basic needs -- such as food, clothing, housing, and medical care -- but also transportation, school fees, and other living expenses. This is an impossible expectation. When asked how they manage to survive on such a meager income, recipients often respond with statements like, “God is generous and there are many kind people.”
However, further investigation revealed that many of these individuals are evasive about their actual earnings. This lack of transparency stems from the fear that revealing their true income would disqualify them from receiving aid from charitable organizations like ours. We also discovered that a significant number of these low-salaried individuals do not work for the entities listed on their official residency documents. Instead, they work elsewhere and pay an annual fee to the sponsoring company to maintain their residency status.
To avoid future disputes, these companies report the minimum wage on official documents, creating a facade of compliance. This practice is widely known and yet tolerated, with the salary of 75 dinars -- used in work contracts issued by the Public Authority for Manpower -- serving as a fictional benchmark. While this minimum wage might apply to workers brought in under specific conditions by cleaning and contracting companies that cover their housing, food, transportation, medical care and travel expenses, it does not reflect the reality for workers supporting families independently. This discrepancy has led us to temporarily halt financial assistance to individuals claiming low incomes.
We found ourselves and others, victims of fraud perpetuated by organized groups, many of whom exploit the good intentions of charitable organizations by manipulating official documents. We call on the Ministry of Interior and the Public Authority for Manpower to address these issues with greater rigor. Specifically, the salary declared in work permits should accurately reflect the worker’s social and financial realities. Stricter controls must be established and the minimum wage should be adjusted to reflect current economic conditions.
How can a salary of 75 dinars suffice for a family head supporting a spouse and children in private schools, living in an apartment, and managing transportation and communication expenses? The manipulation of official documents to exploit these loopholes is both unethical and illegal and we urge immediate corrective measures. We cannot accept the continued silence of regulatory bodies on this matter. A comprehensive review and revision of employment contracts are imperative to end these fraudulent practices and restore fairness and humanity to the system.
By Ahmed alsarraf
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
