A fire in a building in Kuwait has claimed dozens of lives thus far, with more than 40 Indians among the deceased. The building that caught fire was rented by the NBTC Group. It housed 196 workers at the time of the incident.
The blaze broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, around 4 AM, catching the 196 sleeping laborers off guard and leading to Kuwait's Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yusuf Al-Sabah, to order the arrest of the building's owner.
Authorities in Kuwait have reported that a fire in a building in Mangaf has resulted in the deaths of 49 foreign laborers, including nearly 40 Indians.
Kuwait is a nation whose economy greatly depends on its foreign workforce. The majority of Indians living there are working in labor-intensive jobs. Despite earning a substantial income, life is notably difficult. Workers are often crammed into rooms by contractors and owners, lured by the promise of higher earnings. It begs the question: despite all this, why is Kuwait, located some 3300 kilometers from India, favored by Indian workers?
Source: aajtak
How Many Indians Reside in Kuwait?
According to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, the country has long been reliant on Indian workers, with approximately one million Indians living there, accounting for 21% of Kuwait's total population. Moreover, Indians also comprise 30% of Kuwait's overall workforce.
The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) in Kuwait shows that as of December 2023, the population of Kuwait was 4.859 million, more than 3.3 million of which are expatriates.
Statistics indicate that out of Kuwait's nearly 3 million laborers, 75% are employed in manual labor.
Source: aajtak
Why is Kuwait a Preferred Destination for Indians?
Many factors contribute to Kuwait's appeal. First, work in Kuwait is comparably easy to secure without the need for advanced skills, and earnings are relatively higher. Labor laws dictate that employers cannot require employees to work more than 48 hours a week. If additional hours are needed, overtime must be compensated, and it cannot exceed two hours per day.
Although Qatar has no minimum wage law, international guidelines set by the International Labour Organization (ILO) establish a minimum wage for Indian workers abroad. In 2016, the minimum wages for various jobs catering to laborers in the Gulf were defined, allowing Indian workers to earn between $300 and $1050.
Living is Affordable in Kuwait
Research by Workyard indicates that Kuwait is among the most affordable places to live in the world. Both accommodation and food are inexpensive, with one-bedroom apartments available for 250 to 300 Dinar per month, and two-bedroom flats between 300 to 400 Dinar. Indian expatriates often share rentals, such as two families occupying a two-bedroom apartment.
Bachelors find accommodation from 75 to 100 Dinar per month, and a single person's monthly food expense ranges from 50 to 75 Dinar.
Moreover, individuals earning over 600 Dinar monthly are eligible to purchase a car, with nice second-hand cars obtainable for 2500 to 3000 Dinar.
