Kuwait has seen a series of major employment law amendments between 2016 and 2025, reshaping the rights and responsibilities of both workers and employers. From the Unified Employment Contract of 2016 to the latest 2025 updates on overtime limits and minimum pensionable wages, these changes highlight the country’s efforts to balance labor market needs with employee protection.
Recent proposals, such as restricting expatriate job changes for five years and easing transfers between government and private sectors, have gained attention across industries. For a deeper breakdown of the official changes and their impact, check out the full guide on Kuwait Labour Law No. 6/2010 Amendments.
Employment Amendments —(2016–2025)
Updated: 2025
| Year | Amendment Description | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Introduction of Unified Employment Contract and job transfer rights | Standard form contract with 16 clauses; employees can transfer jobs after 3 years with notice |
| 2021 | Ministerial Decree 27/2021 on Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) regulations | Modern electronic system for work permits, licensing clarifications, and expanded business license types |
| 2023 | Cabinet Resolution No. 1179 on Kuwaiti employment in government contracts | Framework for recruitment, Kuwaiti worker priority, and penalties for non-compliance by contractors |
| 2023 | Decision No. 234 amending work permit procedures | Annual renewal and transfer rules for expatriates over 60 and lower education levels, with insurance fees |
| 2024 | Ministerial Resolution No. 8 and No. 11 amending employee transfer conditions | Eased employee transfer between govt and private sector, lifted restrictions on transfers |
| 2025 | Proposal restricting expatriate job change for 5 years | Proposal to require 5 years with same employer before expats can change job, pending approval |
| 2025 | Updates on overtime regulations | Overtime limits set to 2 hours per day, 6 hours weekly, and 180 hours annual; right to refuse overtime |
| 2025 | Increase of minimum pensionable wage for Kuwaiti nationals | Minimum pensionable wage increased to KD 1,000 |
Kuwait Labour Law Reference. For informational use only..