Workers' Rights
Labour protections, wages, leave entitlements, end-of-service benefits, and workplace safety under Kuwait's Labour Law No. 6 of 2010.
Covered in this guide:
Your job in Kuwait is governed by Law No. 6 of 2010 (Private Sector Labour Law), with work permits managed by the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). Standard hours are 8 a day, 48 a week (6 during Ramadan), with a summer outdoor work ban 11am-4pm from June to August. End-of-service indemnity runs 15 days' pay per year for the first 5 years then one month per year, capped at 18 months. Kafala still applies — you need an NOC to switch employers, though PAM can override in abuse cases. Domestic workers are covered by Law No. 68 of 2015.
Key Laws
Law No. 6 of 2010
Private Sector Labour Law
Core employment protections — contracts, wages, hours, leave, termination
Law No. 68 of 2015
Domestic Workers Law
First dedicated domestic worker protections in the Gulf
Law No. 61 of 1976 (as amended)
Social Security Law (KGOSI/PIFSS)
Pension and social insurance for Kuwaiti workers only
PAM Ministerial Decisions
Public Authority for Manpower
Work permits, NOC transfers, summer outdoor work ban
Kuwaitisation Decisions
Civil Service Commission + PAM
Sector-specific quotas for hiring Kuwaiti nationals
Minimum Wage
Kuwait's wage framework has two layers that often get confused — a statutory floor for private-sector workers, and a Wage Protection System (WPS) that polices how employers transfer salaries....
Working Hours and Overtime
Kuwait law caps working hours and mandates overtime premiums, with a distinctive Ramadan reduction:Maximum 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week.During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 6 hours...
Annual Leave and Public Holidays
Kuwait grants generous leave entitlements compared to many Gulf neighbours:30 working days of paid annual leave after completing 1 year of service.Workers with 9 months but less than 1 year get...
End-of-Service Indemnity
End-of-service indemnity (gratuity) is the main severance benefit in Kuwait's private sector — and for most expat workers it is the closest thing to a pension, since the Public Institution for Social...
Workplace Safety and Outdoor Work Ban
Kuwait's summer outdoor work ban is strictly enforced by PAM, with inspectors patrolling construction sites and outdoor workplaces:Outdoor work ban: From 1 June to 31 August, all outdoor work is...
Termination and Notice Period
Kuwait's termination protections are strong on paper, but the kafala system complicates things for expatriates who lose their jobs and their visa simultaneously:Notice period: At least 3 months...
Kafala and Employer Transfer
Kuwait retains a full kafala (sponsorship) system tying every private-sector expatriate worker's residency to their employer. Changing employers requires either a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from...
Domestic Worker Rights
Kuwait's Domestic Workers Law No. 68 of 2015 — the first dedicated domestic-worker statute in the Gulf — sets a KD 60/month minimum wage, guarantees one rest day per week, provides 30 days' paid...
Exit Permit and Travel Ban
On 1 July 2025, Kuwait reimposed an employer-controlled exit-permit system for all private-sector expat workers. This makes Kuwait the only GCC country currently operating an active exit-permit...
Kuwaitisation and Employment Quotas
Kuwaitisation is enforced jointly by the Civil Service Commission and PAM, with sector-specific quotas that are among the most aggressively targeted in the Gulf:Banks and financial institutions must...
Maternity and Parental Leave
Kuwait's maternity leave is among the most generous in the Gulf at 70 paid days, and the nursing hours entitlement is notably long:70 days of paid maternity leave — 30 days before the expected...
Exit Permit via the Sahel App
From 1 July 2025, private-sector expatriate workers in Kuwait request their exit permit through the Sahel app under Ministerial Circular No. 2 of 2025. The employer is required to act on the request,...
Digital Shift Logging via Sahel
From 1 November 2025, private-sector employers in Kuwait are required to log working hours through the Sahel app under Ministerial Resolution No. 15 of 2025. Workers can see their own recorded shifts...
Final Settlement Deadline (Kuwait)
Kuwait's Private Sector Labour Law (6/2010) requires final settlement within 7 days of contract end. The package covers final basic wage + regular allowances, accrued annual leave (Articles 70-71),...
How to File a Labour Complaint with PAM (Kuwait)
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is Kuwait's federal labour regulator. PAM's Labour Relations Department provides free mandatory conciliation before any Labour Court referral. The Sahel app...
Limited vs Unlimited Contracts (Kuwait)
Kuwait's Law 6/2010 allows both limited (fixed-term, max 5 years per Article 28) and unlimited contracts. Article 44 sets a 3-month notice for unlimited contracts (monthly-paid). Article 53...
Wage Protection System — Shamel ePayment (Kuwait)
Kuwait's Shamel ePayment System is the Wage Protection System equivalent, mandated by Ministerial Decree 378/2020. All private-sector wages must flow through approved Kuwaiti banks. PAM monitors...