The Public Authority for Manpower completed automatic digital transfers of residency permits for 27,141 expatriate workers from restricted sectors to approved alternatives after securing consent from their original employers. Supervised by the relevant ministry, the initiative forms part of sustained pushes to modernize labor procedures and improve overall efficiency across administrative functions. Officials described the measure as a way to support balanced workforce distribution while meeting varied economic demands in different industries.
PAM figures placed the small and medium enterprises sector at the forefront with 16,048 approvals, followed by agriculture at 4,460, industry with 3,300, livestock at 3,087 and fisheries with 246. These sector totals match the reported aggregate of 27,141 workers involved in the transfers. The distribution highlights ongoing requirements for expatriate staffing in areas that contribute directly to food production, manufacturing and commercial activity.
The authority stated that the process operated entirely through automated systems once employers granted approval, removing any obligation for workers to appear in person at its headquarters. This approach aligns with broader digital transformation steps that have reduced paperwork and shortened processing timelines for routine labor transactions. Recent PAM actions, including the launch of an electronic platform for daily working hours under Ministerial Decree 15 of 2025, demonstrate continued emphasis on online compliance tools for private sector employers.
Public Authority for Civil Information data shows that expatriates numbered 3.67 million at the end of 2025, accounting for 71.5 percent of Kuwait’s overall population of 5.237 million. The transferred workers represent a targeted adjustment within this large expatriate base, which remains concentrated in sectors ranging from services to agriculture. Such mobility supports legal employment continuity while directing labor toward officially sanctioned economic segments.
PAM has expanded remote services via the Asahel application, allowing employers to modify work permits and employee records without visiting government offices. These digital options now cover a growing share of manpower interactions previously handled through counter services. The latest residency transfers build on this infrastructure to ease administrative loads for both workers and businesses.
The authority noted that the transfers contribute to labor market oversight by ensuring adherence to established guidelines and promoting organized movement across approved activities. Employers in recipient sectors gain access to needed personnel through streamlined channels that maintain regulatory standards. PAM continues to refine these mechanisms as part of wider efforts to align workforce availability with national economic priorities.
