Kuwait’s authorities have launched a significant investigation into approximately 10,000 companies suspected of failing to pay workers’ salaries. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah announced the crackdown at a meeting with private-sector representatives focused on wage payment systems and labour market compliance.
The investigation targets companies employing five or more workers that have allegedly withheld salaries for several months. In extreme cases, workers have gone without pay for up to 18 months. One documented case involved a worker with a registered monthly salary of KD 3,000 receiving only KD 180 monthly, raising concerns about fictitious salary records and misuse of company registrations.
Sheikh Fahad warned that wage violations, alongside potential links to human trafficking and money laundering, could harm Kuwait’s international reputation and standing with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Public Authority for Manpower, led by Director-General Eng. Rabab Al-Osaimi, will suspend or close company files for non-compliance. The authority is coordinating with the Central Bank of Kuwait to address loopholes in wage-payment systems and monitor companies that record wages without making actual payments.
Sheikh Fahad stressed that labour laws will apply equally to all employers regardless of status.
What This Means for Expats: If you work in Kuwait’s private sector, these enforcement measures aim to ensure you receive your full salary on time. Report wage violations to the Public Authority for Manpower.
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Source: Times of Kuwait
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