Kuwait and the neighboring GCC countries have unique social structures. Despite high growth rates, there seems to be an unrelenting need to import skilled manpower and foreign expertise. Expatriates constitute about 80% of the labor force and form an estimated 65% of the population. This tells you that the majority of expatriates are in the working age group, while Kuwaitis are distributed more evenly across the age spectrum.
Because of the ’Kuwaitization’ policy, expatriates make up the bulk of the service-delivering working class whereas Kuwaitis occupy the high-level administrative positions, regardless of their baseline qualifications. This may be construed as a logical step as the latter group is expected to be more understanding of the overarching “masterplan” for the nation and should be able to make decisions that would best fit its needs.
Accordingly, and in abstract terms, what expatriates are doing for Kuwait spans far beyond what they are being rewarded for. Instead of acknowledging this, the nationals are blaming them for their own deficits and failures. Politicians have been tickling the emotions of the laypeople against the authorities using the expatriates as an easy target. Why do that? Well, simply because they cannot fight back and because it is safer to project fragile egos onto what is considered a weaker front.
Excerpt from Al-Watan Daily dated June 9, 2008: “KUWAIT: In an exclusive interview with Al Watan a Board Member of the Kuwait Transparency Society said that the Kuwaiti community is at risk from the increasing number of expatriates which are having a negative effect on the country’s demography.”
A fact to consider is that we currently have no future projections to indicate that at any point in time the expertise and skills of Kuwaitis will be self-sufficient. We are also losing our highly qualified expatriates due to our inhumane immigration and employment laws. Blaming the ailing health care on the expatriates and claiming that they change the demographics (if such terms can be used) of the country is not just a mockery but a violation of what we consider to be basic ethical and moral values.
Looking back into our history, when our nation emerged, and seeing how our society evolved, rapidly reveals why some Kuwaitis feel that their identity is being threatened and why they are eager to reject foreign ideas (and ideals, for that matter). Nevertheless, they are quick to accept the materialism that is not just foreign to human nature but is also a distraction to it.
It disappoints me greatly that we call for such atrocities. Freedom and justice are universal concepts that should apply to all. We should not flag the words whenever and for whomever we desire.
This is not an attack on any person, but it is a stand against anyone who deprives me and my family of the right to live in a society where differences are appreciated not ostracized. I have a dream for my children to live freely and acquire their beings from within not by struggling with others.
The article claims the source to be a study by a female physician that assessed the effects of expatriates on the health of Kuwaitis. It turns out that this so-called source was nothing more than the personal opinion of someone whose ignorance goes as far as making such absurd allegations as blaming homosexuality and prostitution for the transmission of HIV. Although irrelevant here, this stigmatizing statement deprives the public and particularly married women of their right to information.
Real studies have shown inequities in health care access between Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis (Shah, 1996). Expatriates, despite the healthy worker effect, suffer the poor conditions of their workplace, social segregation, emotional, if not physical, abuse, and disproportionately low wages. This places them in a high risk group and, thus, no effort should be spared to ensure their appropriate access to services. The recent parliament parade suggesting separate hospitals for expatriates, claiming that this will ensure better health care for them, is based on magical thinking. If Kuwaitis themselves, the influential social majority, were unable to convince the government to seriously and radically improve their health care system, can you imagine the quality of the health services that disadvantaged expatriates will endure under such segregation?
Isn’t it interesting that the only thing both liberals and conservatives agree upon is to discriminate against the expatriates. People who run the show are deliberately distracting the public from the reality it lives in. The people have become mental hostages of a tiny box known to the world as a military base more so than a true nation. Despite their needs being supplied by foreign labor and having been given the responsibility of managing this little box, the nationals have exhibited few signs of successful leadership when assuming this task.
Lastly, and more importantly, for those who assume an identity by clinging onto their passports, the value of which lies in the dripping oil, if we start segregating non-Kuwaitis, followed by Muslims and non-Muslims, how long will it take us to segregate Shi’a and Sunna, Bedouin and Hadar or even different social classes? Will we then create new distinctions? I can guarantee you that those who ask for discrimination will be discriminated against at one point in time.
Let us acknowledge the big picture, Kuwait has no time for such distractions, as its progress has been delayed for years and is asynchronous with the growing financial resources. It is time to get above ourselves and think of the values of the society we want our children raised in and the morals we aspire to equip them with. Finally, the best interests for our development and the means by which we can recruit the brightest and most qualified individuals to work hand in hand with Kuwaitis towards this mission must rapidly be defined.
The Kuwait Health Initiative stands for integration and against any form of segregation.
“All people are equal in human dignity and in public rights and duties before the law, without distinction to race, origin, language, or religion.” – Article 29, Kuwait Constitution 1962.
References:
1. Abduldayem M. Large number of expats detrimental to Kuwaiti society. Al Watan Daily June 9, 2008.
2. Shah NM, Shah MA, Behbehani J. Predictors of non-urgent utilization of hospital emergency services in Kuwait. Soc Sci Med 1996;42:1313-23.
3. Shah NM, Shah MA, Behbehani J. Ethnicity, nationality and health care accessibility in Kuwait: a study of hospital emergency room users. Health Policy and Planning 1996;11:319-328.
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