Kuwait now allows Part-Time, Remote Work for Expats in Private Sector

Kuwait: First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled Al-Sabah has authorized private sector employees to pursue part-time employment with entities beyond their original sponsors. Effective January 2024, these directives also endorse remote work opportunities, marking a significant step in expanding work flexibility for private sector workers nationwide.

Part-Time Work Regulations

Under the new rulings, private sector employees seeking part-time roles in different companies must secure approval from their primary employes. Part-time engagements are capped at a maximum of four hours per day. Notably, the contracting sector remains exempt from these provisions, as clarified by the Public Authority for Manpower in a recent announcement.

Remote Work Authorization

The Interior Minister has also instructed the Public Authority for Manpower to institute regulations governing remote work in the private sector. This directive empowers employees to fulfill their duties away from the office environment, catering to roles that don’t mandate physical presence in the workplace.

Addressing Demographic Imbalance

These directives align with broader initiatives aimed at addressing Kuwait’s demographic imbalance. By enabling companies to engage local talent instead of sourcing labor externally, the government aims to mitigate demographic challenges while enhancing employment opportunities within the country.

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For those who can afford it, moving to Kuwait could offer a high standard of living with all imaginable amenities. At the same time, as many expats who have taken the plunge and moved to Kuwait report, it is a great place to get to know Arab traditions and culture. Therefore, getting a job in the Gulf country can lead to a rewarding expat experience.

The majority of expatriates moving to Kuwait do so to work in the country’s oil industry. Kuwait’s rapidly-growing financial sector and fields such as marketing, sales, and business development also offer rewarding opportunities for expats moving to Kuwait. However, expats might face some difficulties in the future, with the government already drawing up plans to cut down the huge number of expats currently living in Kuwait in an attempt to give an advantage to the local workforce.

-Agencies

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