Kuwait has reportedly issued an official statement that will see companies pay an additional fee for employing expats.
The levy will be KD250 ($830) per work permit for employing ‘excess’ expats, according to Kuwait Times.
The new levy will apply to foreign hires at companies should their expat headcount exceed 50 percent of the workforce.
This will likely mean most private sector companies in the country, where nearly nine in 10 citizens work in the public sector, have to pay.
Kuwait has been increasing charges and fees for foreigners in recent months to boost government revenues.
Last month, it announced new healthcare costs for expats working in the country, while MPs have proposed introducing expat quotas and limits due to concerns of a demographic imbalance.
Foreigners in Kuwait are estimated to make up more than 70 percent of the country’s 4.4 million population.
