The Public Authority for Manpower has scheduled the relocation of its Labor Relations Department from the Abu Futira building to newly constructed headquarters in Sabahiya. Visitor services at the existing site will be temporarily suspended on the upcoming Sunday and Monday to enable staff to finalize the transfer and arrange the new premises. Operations will commence at the Sabahiya location on Tuesday, July 14, the authority said in its announcement. Clients seeking labor-related assistance were directed to visit the updated facility from the resumption date onward.
In the statement, PAM described the shift as an element of its drive to modernize the work environment and upgrade the standard of services delivered to employers and employees alike. The new headquarters incorporates improved infrastructure designed to streamline administrative tasks and reduce processing times for routine inquiries. This infrastructure upgrade aligns with the authority’s recent sequence of operational enhancements across multiple divisions.
The Labor Relations Department oversees key functions that include resolution of workplace disputes, validation of employment contracts and processing of labor transfer applications. A Ministerial Circular No. 1 of 2026 issued by PAM, which took effect on June 2, introduced procedures allowing expatriate workers to correct registered educational qualifications or professions when these align with their actual duties, according to a LexisNexis legal briefing on the regulation. The circular forms part of ongoing efforts to raise transparency and match workforce skills more precisely to market requirements.
PAM maintains regulatory oversight of labor practices in an economy where expatriate employees fill critical roles in construction, healthcare, domestic services and retail. Separate announcements from the authority this year have adjusted rules on work permit transfers for selected sectors during defined windows, Times Kuwait reported in April coverage of related manpower decisions. Such policy tweaks illustrate the body’s continuous adjustment of procedures to address evolving employer needs while safeguarding worker rights.
The authority emphasized that all pending transactions at the Labor Relations Department should be deferred until the Sabahiya headquarters opens. Staff members will use the suspension period to transfer records, equipment and operational files without interruption to core data systems. PAM further noted that electronic platforms for certain labor inquiries will remain accessible throughout the transition to minimize inconvenience for users.
This relocation follows a pattern of administrative reforms the Public Authority for Manpower has pursued since early 2026, including tightened oversight on expatriate job classifications to prevent mismatches between qualifications and assigned roles. The new Sabahiya site is positioned to accommodate higher daily visitor volumes with enhanced waiting areas and digital service kiosks. Officials indicated that similar moves for other departments may be announced as the authority expands its upgraded facilities in the coming months.
