Work conditions in Kuwait

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

8 hours per day, 48 hours per week.

Retirement Age

60 years old.

Working Contracts

The private sector has two types of contracts:  Contract for unlimited time and contract for limited time which cannot exceed five years.  It is mandatory that  all contracts have to be written in Arabic, but they can be translated if the employee does not speak Arabic.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

According to the ILO, the minimum wage was KWD 75 per month in 2019 for the private and oil sector (latest available data).

Average Wage

In Kuwait, the average wage fluctuates significantly between different sectors of activity but also between workers of Kuwaiti nationality and expatriates.
The ILO does not have data on the average wage in Kuwait.
The average salary is estimated at 1,761 KWD per month in 2019 (according to surveys done by various companies, latest data available).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 11.5% of salaries. For the foreign labor, there is no obligation of employer contribution.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 10.5% of the gross wage for Kuwaiti workers.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

KCCI - Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry
KIU - Kuwait Industries Union

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Creation of syndicates (unions) is limited.  All syndicates (about 15) are regrouped under the Kuwaiti Federation of Syndicates.  Foreign domestic workers, who represent one third of the active population, do not have the right to be affiliated to a syndicate.

Labour Unions

Kuwait Trade Union Federation

Unionisation Rate

5 % of the active population is affiliated to a syndicate (union).

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs & Electricity and Water