The Public Authority for Manpower issued an advisory to clarify regulations on working hours as part of its Know Your Rights awareness campaign, the authority said. Employees cannot be required to work more than eight hours a day or 48 hours a week according to the provisions of Kuwait’s Labour Law. A rest break becomes mandatory if the continuous working period exceeds five hours. Workers assigned overtime are entitled to additional compensation at rates set by the law while employers must document all extra hours accurately.
The advisory referenced Articles 64, 65 and 66 of the Labour Law which collectively address standard working times, rest intervals and overtime requirements. PAM stressed that regulating working hours helps protect workers’ rights and contributes to maintaining workplace stability. The authority noted that employers retain the flexibility to request overtime when business needs demand it but only within the established legal limits. Such arrangements require full transparency and timely payment to the affected staff.
Public Authority for Civil Information figures place Kuwait’s expatriate population at roughly 3.3 million with the vast majority employed in the private sector governed by these labour regulations. A report from the International Labour Organization highlighted that working hour compliance remains an important focus for authorities across the Gulf. The Kuwaiti authority’s latest reminder aligns with broader regional efforts to ensure fair labor practices for the large foreign workforce.
The campaign seeks to inform both workers and businesses of their respective rights and obligations under the law. Employees who believe they are being forced to work beyond legal limits can file complaints through designated PAM channels. Proper adherence to the rules helps minimize labor disputes and supports a balanced employment environment, PAM officials have indicated in similar past statements.
Kuwait adopted its current private sector labour law in 2010 to modernize regulations for a dynamic workforce, according to government records. The Manpower Authority conducts regular inspections and launches periodic awareness drives to uphold these standards. In recent years the focus on worker protections has intensified as part of national plans to improve living and working conditions for expatriates.
