Kuwait
Working in Kuwait seems like a wonderful fairy tale: sun, sea, life abroad and excellent wages. But behind the beautiful illusion lies the reality: you will have to work a lot, and not everyone is able to withstand such loads. Working in Kuwait is a great way to make money, get a glimpse of life in a rumored country and gain valuable career experience. It’s no secret that during the tourist season, many resorts announce the opening of hundreds of vacancies for foreigners. Therefore, if you are interested in employment in Kuwait and want to know all the nuances of how to properly prepare in order not to get into trouble, be sure to read this article.
How to find a job in Kuwait
To find a job, people often choose several strategies:
1. way – look for a job in the Emirates remotely
In this case, you need to write a resume in English, format it beautifully and send it to open vacancies. Here are some website for job search in Emirates: layboard.in.
If you qualify for an open position, the HR manager will contact you by email or phone. As a rule, the first interview is conducted by phone or Skype. If you successfully pass the interview, you will be granted a work visa. In the beginning it will be an entry permit. Sometimes lodging and meals are provided, but this is rare.
2. way – go to Kuwait and find a job on the spot
You can leave for the Emirates on a tourist visa or on a 90-day visit visa. In this case, a job can be found faster, since you will have an advantage, you can instantly come to an interview and the employer will be able to talk to you personally. Of course, there are also disadvantages: in order to implement this method, you need to have money, because living in Dubai is not cheap and at first it can take a lot of money. You will also have to solve everyday issues: rent, transportation costs, food, and so on. Therefore, it is better to go to the Emirates prepared, agree in advance on the planned interviews, develop a strategy – how exactly you will look for a job. This will be just sending out resumes via the Internet, or you also plan to make cold calls and visits to offices. Each person will have their own job search strategy.
3. way – contact a recruiting company
Such companies are divided into two types: the first take payment for their services from employers, while others, on the contrary, take payment from the applicant. You definitely need to contact the first ones, as a rule, such HRs have good Kuwait job vacancies for foreigners with acceptable working conditions. And they will always gladly accept your resume in their database so that they can call you in case of a suitable vacancy. But sometimes scammers disguise themselves as such companies. They collect money from those who dream of going to work in Kuwait and then either do not find a job or find one that is not suitable at all (poor working conditions, low wages). I’m not saying that all companies are like this, but be careful, check reviews and recommendations.
Jobs for Indians in Kuwait
Many of our compatriots work in the Emirates, many of them have already lived there for 10-20 years. Someone works at a hired job, someone opened his own business and purchased real estate. Of course, it is always difficult to start, finding a job in Kuwait is not easy, as the competition is very strong. Employers often give preference to job seekers with local work experience. But you should not give up, there are always chances to find a job, especially if you are a good specialist.
Representatives of India mainly get a job as sellers, realtors, waiters. Knowledge of the English language is a must. According to our clients, the earnings of visitors completely depend on the personal qualities of the person himself and his command of English.
Natives of European countries and America as specialists are valued above all and earn up to 20 thousand dollars a month. In Dubai, there is a clear hierarchy in the labor market. The lowest ranked jobs are Indians, Filipinos and Pakistanis. Emigrants from India occupy a middle position.
Working as a doctor in Kuwait
Emirati hospitals primarily hire local doctors, but there are specialties with a shortage of specialists that often hire foreigners: plastic surgeons, cardiologists, oncologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons. Usually, all foreign specialists who have a work visa receive a contract for one year, which ends with the validity of the visa. After one year, the hospital decides to renew the contract.
Dubai hospitals only hire doctors who can prove their experience, so all clinics and hospitals have set the following requirements for hiring foreign specialists:
- High level of knowledge of English.
- Medical practice license issued by the DHA.
- Trustworthiness Certificate – Certificate of Good Standing.
- At least three years of experience in a similar field.
- Certificate of no criminal record in India.
Work as an engineer in Kuwait
There is also a demand for work as an engineer in Kuwait in such areas as construction, oil and gas, industry, and so on. Take for example the Engineering Jobs job posting on a job site.
“Job Description: Required Qualification – Bachelor in Civil Engineering. Knowledge in the design and analysis of steel structures according to STAAD or ROPOT. Knowledge in the preparation and verification of working drawings … ”
As you can see, for this job you need to have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. For some vacancies, work experience in a similar position and a degree of education not lower than a master’s are required. But there are a lot of vacancies, and you can find a suitable one for your parameters. Of course, knowledge of English is required.
Working as a programmer in Kuwait
Also, IT in the Emirates can be distinguished from the demanded specialties. This includes programmers, IT managers and administrators, software developers. The salary of a programmer in Kuwait is high, as this country is the leader in the innovation rating among the Arab countries.
Employment requires a high level of English proficiency and a bachelor’s or master’s degree in information technology, computer science or another relevant field.
Features of work
According to Kuwait Labor Code, the working day lasts 8 hours, the week – 48 hours. The exception is enterprises in the field of tourism and services: here the working day can be increased by an hour. Day off – one day a week (often Friday). For overtime work during the day surcharge – 125% of the rate, at night – 150%. By agreement, the increase can be replaced by an additional day off.
Regardless of nationality and position, all employees in Kuwait are entitled to 30 days of paid leave. Some companies compensate for the cost of airfare for a trip home at this time.
In most cases, the host company pays for the accommodation of a foreign employee, medical insurance, and sometimes meals. Upon dismissal, the employer considers how many years the employee has worked, and for each year issues compensation equal to the salary for 21 days.
Most businesses assign a probationary period when hiring, which can last up to six months. If the candidate is not suitable, he has the right to be fired within one day.
After the probationary period and hiring, either party has the right to terminate the contract by notifying the other party at least one month in advance. But! If you have not worked for a year from the date of signing the contract, the company has the right to demand reimbursement of all costs for your employment (paperwork, air tickets, etc.).
Moreover: if the desire to terminate the contract in advance is purely yours, Kuwait Ministry of Labor has the right to impose a six-month ban on your further employment. In particularly severe cases (for example, you leave work without explanation), the ban can be for life.
If the contract is terminated by agreement of the parties, it is possible to avoid a ban by asking the employer for a No Objection Certificate document stating that there are no claims against you.
There are no trade unions in Kuwait. If a conflict arises between the employer and the employee, the situation is considered by the Immigration Service and the Ministry of Labor. The decision can be appealed in court.
