Kuwait Labor Law Summarised: Working Hours, Overtime, and Leave in Kuwait’s Private Sector

Understanding your rights and obligations as an employee or employer is crucial for maintaining a compliant and productive work environment. This guide simplifies the key provisions from Kuwait Labor Law (Law No. 6 of 2010), focusing on working hours, overtime, weekly rest days, and different type of leaves.

Standard Working Hours

• Regular Hours: Employees may not work more than 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week
• Ramadhan Hours: Reduced to 36 hours per week
• Exceptions: Reduced hours may apply for hazardous or health-risk work, as determined by the Minister

Break and Rest Periods

• Employees must not work for more than 5 continuous hours without a break of at least 1 hour
• Breaks are not counted as part of the working hours
• Sectors like banking and finance may work 8 continues hours

Overtime Rule

• Allowed with a written order from the employer.
• Max Overtime:
  1. 2 hours per day
  2. 3 days per week
  3. 90 days per year
  4. 180 total hours per year

• Pay Rate: Overtime must be compensated at 125% of the regular rate.
• Employers must maintain an overtime log

Weekly Off Days

• Employees are entitled to one full paid day off per weekly (Friday)
• If required to work on their rest day:
  1. They receive 50% extra pay, plus
  2. A substitute day off

Official Paid Holidays:

Employees are entitled to the following fully paid public holidays

1. Islamic New Year – 1 day
2. Isra’ & Mi’raj – 1 day
3. Eid Al-Fitr – 3 days
4. Arafat Day – 1 day
5. Eid Al-Adha – 3 days
6. Prophet’s Birthday – 1 day
7. National Day – 25 Feb, 1 day
8. Liberation Day – 26 Feb, 1 day
9. Gregorian New Year – Jan 1, 1 day

Sick Leave Entitlement

• Employees are granted up to 75 days of sick leave per year, split as follows:
  1. 15 days 100% pay
  2. 10 days at 75% pay
  3. 10 days at 50% pay
  4. 10 days at 25% pay

• A valid medical certificate is required, and serious illnesses are governed by special provisions from the Ministry of Health

Annual Leave Policy

• Employees are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave after 9 months of service
• Holidays or sick days during annual leave do not count towards the leave
• Leave may accumulate for minimum up to two years or more with mutual agreement
• Upon contract termination, unused leave must be paid out in cash

Special Types of Leave

• Educational Leave: With full pay, limited to 5 years, required equal work service afterward
• Hajj Leave: 21 days paid leave after 2 years of service
• Bereavement leaves:
  1. 3 days for death of close relatives
  2. 4 months and 10 days for widowed Muslim Woman (Iddah)

• 21 days for non-Muslim widows
• Union Events: Paid leave may be granted for attending labor events, as per Minister’s decision
• Unpaid Leave: May be granted on request, subject to employer approval.

The Kuwait Labor Law is of course the minimum requirement of an employer to adhere to, many employers provide additional benefits above and beyond. It is vital when applying a new job to ensure the new employer provides the basic requirements as per the Kuwait Labor Law as that is the right you have as an employee when working in Kuwait.

Whenever you are in the process to get a job in Kuwait, ensure the minimum benefits align with the Kuwait Labor Law is important. The discussion benefits with HR could be supplemented with the knowledge of Kuwait Labor Law therefore you will make sure to maximise your benefit as an employee.

Hope the summary helps in your journey to make Kuwait as your home.