KUWAIT CITY, Jan 23: The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is allegedly in the process of breaking the deadlock and has prepared a new draft decision regarding the renewal of work permits for non-graduate 60-year-old expatriates working in the country’s private sector, reports Al-Qabas daily. The daily quoting sources said according to the new draft decision the fee of 250 dinars has been proposed for the renewal of the work permit for non-graduate expats (60 years and above), in addition to health insurance. The new decision will be presented to the upcoming meeting of the Public Authority for Manpower Board of Directors headed by Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Integrity Promotion Jamal Al- Jalawi.

The sources pointed out the above-mentioned fee is less than what was agreed upon by the Board of Directors at its last meeting headed by former Minister of Commerce Abdullah Al-Salman which was set at 500 dinars for permission to work other than private health insurance. The sourced also stated that the draft of the new decision will be presented to the members of the Board of Directors for a vote before taking a decision. The sources stressed the information systems at PAM are ready to implement any new version of the decision immediately.

Meanwhile, the Health Assurance Hospitals Company said efforts are being exerted by the hospital’s Board of Directors to complete and equip the first ‘Daman’ hospital which is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, reports Al-Rai daily. The sources said “once the hospital begins operations, the Ministry of the Interior will be requested to raise the value of the health insurance fee for expatriates to 130 dinars when the residence permit is due for renewal beginning from 2023, according to the fees specified in the tender documents. The sources noted that “Daman will not charge anything outside what is mentioned in the tender documents unless it has space to use its facilities for commercial purposes.”