The Ministry of Social Affairs has circulated instructions to boards of cooperative societies to promptly compile a list of all workers who have exceeded 67 years of age and proceed with the necessary procedures to end their employment according to applicable laws, regulations and decisions. The circular specifies that all financial and job-related rights, including end-of-service indemnities, must be fully safeguarded and disbursed to the affected employees. Cooperatives are required to submit the detailed list of names and confirmation of compliance to the ministry no later than 30 days from receipt of the directive.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, the measure forms part of its commitment to developing the cooperative sector, strengthening the efficiency of its human resources and enabling young national talents. The step aligns with state directions toward human capital development and the targets of Kuwait Vision 2035, while fostering a work environment that ensures institutional performance sustainability. The ministry has called for feedback on implementation of the circular along with the prepared lists of affected employees.
This directive builds upon earlier reforms by the Ministry of Social Affairs, including Ministerial Decision 196 of 2026 that introduced updated regulations for cooperative work with an emphasis on governance, transparency and supplier payment terms. In the past two years the ministry has dissolved boards of 15 cooperative societies and referred 290 individuals, including 135 Kuwaitis, to public prosecution over various violations, according to statements from Minister Amthal Al-Huwailah. These actions reflect a sustained focus on addressing irregularities and improving sector oversight.
The cooperative sector remains a cornerstone of Kuwait’s consumer retail network, with societies operating central markets and branches that supply daily necessities to citizens and residents across the country. The latest circular applies to both Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti staff, aiming to reorganize staffing structures and prioritize merit-based appointments over past practices that sometimes reflected electoral or personal considerations. Officials within the ministry’s Cooperative Affairs Sector have stressed that the policy creates openings for qualified young Kuwaitis in supervisory and support positions.
Implementation of the 30-day deadline will be monitored through the ministry’s dedicated channels, with cooperative unions expected to disseminate the instructions uniformly to all member societies. The directive follows patterns seen in prior ministry communications that tied employment adjustments to national workforce localization objectives. Affected employees will retain entitlement to all prescribed benefits without exception, as reiterated in the official communication.
