Termination and Notice Period
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Kuwaiti national legislation, Amiri decrees, and ministerial decisions.
Kuwaiti National Law
What is this right?
Both employers and employees must follow specific rules when ending an employment relationship:
- Notice period: At least 3 months written notice is required for indefinite contracts.
- Fixed-term contracts end on the agreed date without notice, but early termination requires compensation.
- Employers cannot terminate for union activity, pregnancy, filing a complaint, or taking lawful leave.
- Unfair dismissal: If terminated without valid reason, you can claim compensation of up to 15 months of salary in addition to your end-of-service indemnity.
- Employers may terminate without notice or indemnity only for serious misconduct (e.g., assault, fraud, or repeated absence without cause).
When does it apply?
- You are being terminated by your employer or you plan to resign.
- You are on an indefinite contract — the 3-month notice period applies.
- You believe your termination was unfair or retaliatory.
What should you do?
- Get the termination in writing — ask for a formal letter stating the reason.
- If you want to resign, give 3 months written notice to preserve your full end-of-service indemnity.
- If terminated unfairly, file a complaint with MSAL within the statutory period.
- Collect all final payments — unpaid salary, leave balance, and indemnity.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not walk off the job without proper notice — you could lose part of your indemnity.
- Do not sign a resignation letter your employer wrote for you if you were actually fired — this affects your rights.
- Do not accept verbal promises of future payment — get everything documented.
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