The Public Authority for Manpower has issued guidance affirming there is no freeze on the right to resign as part of its Know Your Rights campaign, directly addressing worker concerns over labor mobility in the private sector. According to the authority, employees may end contracts without prior notice and still receive end-of-service benefits when employers breach the employment agreement, commit assault or create serious risks to health and safety, subject to legal conditions. The statement, which references multiple articles of Kuwait Labour Law, also lists situations where contracts end automatically by operation of law, including worker death, inability to perform duties, exhaustion of sick leave, business closure or bankruptcy rulings.
Gulf News reported that the advisory forms part of a broader effort to outline both worker and employer termination rights, stressing that the authority’s guidance draws from Articles 41, 44, 46, 48, 49 and 50 of the Labour Law. The Public Authority for Manpower noted that employers hold corresponding rights to end indefinite-term contracts with required notice periods of one or three months depending on pay structure, or without notice in grave cases prescribed by statute. Workers retain the ability to contest any dismissal they view as unjustified through official channels, the authority added.
Public Authority for Civil Information figures place Kuwait’s expatriate population at roughly 3.3 million, comprising more than two-thirds of residents and forming the backbone of the private sector workforce that the latest clarification targets. The campaign arrives amid ongoing reforms to labor procedures, including expanded use of the Sahel digital platform for permit and complaint processing that has reduced reliance on in-person transactions. PAM data from related advisories this year show consistent emphasis on compliance to prevent disputes that could disrupt employment transitions.
In previous statements throughout 2026, the Public Authority for Manpower has detailed notice requirements, benefit calculations and transfer options for workers completing minimum service periods, reinforcing protections against arbitrary restrictions. A Gulf News assessment of the August guidance highlighted how these rules balance employee mobility with employer stability in a market where nationalization quotas continue to evolve by sector. The authority’s inventory of covered scenarios ensures both parties understand their obligations before any resignation or dismissal proceeds.
The Public Authority for Manpower operates an electronic portal offering services ranging from work permit inquiries to labor complaint filings, which recorded increased usage after the launch of related digital tools earlier in the year. Officials have encouraged workers facing contract issues to submit evidence-based claims for mediation, where PAM can authorize transfers without employer consent in validated cases of violation. This approach aligns with the authority’s published procedures that aim to maintain orderly labor market functions while upholding statutory rights.
