The Public Authority for Manpower inked the agreement with Takamol Holding in Kuwait City on Monday to exchange expertise on labor market development and create smart electronic platforms that incorporate artificial intelligence for skills verification. PAM Director Rabab Al-Osaimi said the partnership complies with a directive from First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef to bolster cooperation with specialized organizations in updating policies and building professional standards. Al-Osaimi added that the initiative focuses on measuring worker competencies against actual market requirements to raise productivity and efficiency across the economy.
Central Statistical Bureau data placed Kuwait’s non-Kuwaiti population at roughly 3.3 million at the start of 2025 out of a total near 4.9 million residents, underscoring the scale of the expatriate workforce that the new system will screen. The authority’s announcement noted that clear mechanisms for skills assessment will curb haphazard recruitment practices that have contributed to mismatches between worker abilities and job demands. Such alignment is expected to support broader economic goals by ensuring imported labor directly contributes to key sectors without unnecessary gaps in capability.
Al-Osaimi stated that implementing the skills measurement system will also help regulate the recruitment process more tightly and reduce instances of visa trafficking by tying entry approvals to verified qualifications. The memorandum covers development of electronic systems using the latest global technologies along with creation of a unified Kuwaiti professional guide that reflects current labor market needs. Takamol Holding CEO Ahmed Al-Yamani confirmed the collaboration builds on progress PAM has already achieved toward that professional guide while drawing on the Saudi firm’s established testing infrastructure.
Takamol Holding operates approximately 200 labor testing and screening centers in major worker-sending countries with electronic testing used where labor volumes are lower, according to details shared during the signing. The company has conducted about 1.5 million skills assessments for individuals heading to GCC states and extends its certificate and skills verification services to around 160 countries worldwide. Al-Yamani described the partnership as aligned with PAM’s restructuring aims to recruit workers whose competencies match employer requirements precisely.
The skills filter upgrade forms part of ongoing PAM initiatives to refine labor policies amid sustained demand for foreign workers in construction, services and other industries that employ the bulk of the expatriate population. By establishing pre-recruitment testing protocols the authority seeks to prevent underqualified entries that strain resources and lower overall workforce output. Officials indicated the system will be rolled out progressively once the unified professional guide and supporting digital tools reach full readiness.
PAM has pursued several digital and regulatory reforms in recent years to streamline services and increase transparency in the labor market. The latest agreement with the Saudi entity adds an external expertise layer that officials believe will accelerate adoption of AI-driven assessment methods. Al-Osaimi emphasized that selecting candidates based on demonstrated skills will deliver measurable gains in both productivity and economic performance over time.
