The Public Authority for Manpower announced the conclusion of the seasonal ban on working in open areas during peak daytime hours, effective September 1, 2026. According to the authority, employers must continue providing safe working environments and appropriate conditions to protect workers’ health and safety even after the restriction ends. PAM stressed that it will continue to monitor workplaces to ensure compliance with occupational safety and health regulations. It will take necessary action against any companies and employers found in violation of the requirements.
The ban had been imposed from June 1 to August 31 under the provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. 3 of 2006, which regulates work in open areas during periods of extreme heat and other unsuitable climatic conditions. The resolution was issued by Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef in his capacity as chairman of the Public Authority for Manpower board. Director General Rabab Al-Osaimi had indicated that the authority has the power to amend the timing or duration of the curfew depending on climatic and environmental changes. Such adjustments allow the ban to be applied during hazardous weather including dust storms, heavy rain, high temperatures or humidity, natural disasters, epidemics and emergency situations.
The resolution exempts certain urgent and technical operations that cannot be postponed from the prohibition, provided prior approval is obtained from the Labor Inspection Department and all occupational safety requirements are met. PAM conducted extensive media and field inspection campaigns throughout the summer to ensure compliance with the rules. In the previous year’s equivalent campaign 63 violating sites were punished, 68 workers were taken into custody and 37 reports were registered. The campaign was conducted under the slogan “Their Safety Matters” as part of efforts to raise awareness.
The Public Authority for Manpower has reiterated that the lifting of the ban coincides with the need to sustain all protective measures for outdoor workers. The authority noted that companies should reorganize work to avoid exposure to unsafe conditions at any time. The authority continues to call on employers and the public to cooperate in maintaining high standards of labor welfare throughout the year.
The annual restriction aims to protect outdoor workers from the health risks associated with extreme summer temperatures in Kuwait, according to the Public Authority for Manpower. Similar policies have been enforced in previous years with increasing emphasis on compliance through inspections and public reporting platforms. Muhammad Al-Ajmi, head of the occupational safety department in the capital governorate, had described the ban as aligned with international labor standards designed to provide a safe working environment. The measure allows companies to shift operations to cooler parts of the day without delaying overall project timelines.
