Exit permit requirement protects workers and combats residency trade: Al-Otaibi

Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower, Marzouq Al-Otaibi, said the recent decision requiring expatriate workers to obtain an exit permit before traveling is designed to safeguard workers’ rights and combat illegal labor practices.

Al-Otaibi said, this measure will have long-term positive impacts by curbing both residency trade and human trafficking, reports Al-Rai daily.

He stressed that any worker who faces extortion or coercion from their employer can file a complaint through official channels. “Complaints will be reviewed immediately, and if the claims are verified, legal action will be taken,” he said.

Al-Otaibi explained that the new exit permit system requires workers to specify a departure and return date when requesting leave.

However, flexibility is built into the system — employees are allowed to travel at any time within the approved window, and delays in returning will not be penalized, provided the employer agrees.

He emphasized that in cases involving extended leave — such as when a worker requests five months of leave but departs at a later time — the actual leave period must be limited to the approved duration. This ensures clarity between the worker and the employer and prevents misuse of the system.

Dispelling concerns that the new policy could complicate travel procedures or introduce bureaucratic obstacles, Al-Otaibi assured that the process is fully electronic.

“There is no involvement from the authority in the approval itself,” he said. “The leave permit is a simple procedure carried out entirely through the Sahel app or via the Public Authority for Manpower’s website.”

In response to questions about how companies with large numbers of workers — such as cleaning companies — will manage the new requirements, Al-Otaibi said that the authority’s website includes services accessible to all workers.

“All workers in Kuwait today have access to a simple application that allows them to apply for leave and other services with ease,” he noted.

Al-Otaibi reiterated that the intent behind the regulation is to protect workers, simplify procedures, and enforce transparency, especially in sectors prone to labor violations.