Kuwaiti Reforms

Kuwait has begun implementing reforms to its guest worker policies:

"Kuwait on Sunday began implementing a breakthrough decision that allows foreigners working in the private sector to switch jobs without the consent of their sponsor...

"According to the decision, an expatriate who has spent three years with a sponsor now has the right to move to another job without his approval. An employee can also switch to another job after one year if his employer does not oppose the move."

Allowing for a three-year period of obligation to the original employer gives some certainty to business community, who might otherwise bring someone in only to have them leave right away. However, I wonder if some of the impetus for these moves in the Gulf states is to make hiring migrant workers less desirable so as to start paving the way for nationalization of the work force.