Kuwait is planning to reduce the number of expatriates living and working in the country over the next decade, according to a government minister.

Thekra al-Rasheedi, the social affairs and labour minister, told the state news agency KUNA that the government is planning to reduce the number of expatriates in the Gulf state by 1 million people over the next 10 years.

Al-Rasheedi said the measures were being taken to “eliminate the phenomenon of a marginal workforce”.

According to figures quoted by AFP, Kuwait currently has a local population of 1.6 million, and an expatriate population of 2.6 million.