‘Manpower’ disproves accusations of gas stations’ labour shortage
The reason being given behind people having to wait in long queues at Kuwait fuel stations is that the petrol pumps are not fully operational due to a great shortage of staff. The stations blamed the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) of not allowing them to recruit staff from abroad, claiming the staff available in Kuwait are not trained for this job.
PAM issued a statement clarifying that reports published in some papers and on social media on importing labour for fuel stations are not accurate and assured its decisions have been consistent since 2015 and that the list of needs assessment issued by the authority since 2016 has not witnessed any fundamental changes, whether related to fuel companies or other employers. All companies and employers are subject to the labor law in the private sector.
The statement included the exact number of needs assessments of each of the fuel station companies. One had permission to hire 892 workers, but the company only recruited 412 workers from abroad, while the actual number of workers is 530 workers presently. Another fuel company was given a needs assessment of 710 workers, but the company only recruited 342 workers on work permits from abroad, while their actual number of workers is currently 567.
