CSC approves executive procedures to preserve rights of individuals affected by nationality withdrawal
The Civil Service Council has approved the executive procedures related to the Cabinet’s decision on safeguarding the rights and privileges of individuals whose Kuwaiti nationality has been withdrawn, including those who had obtained it under Article (Fifth/Third) of the 1965 Census category and those who acquired nationality through dependency.
The decision ensures the continuity of several employment-related rights, including the ability to continue working in government establishments, while explicitly prohibiting them from assuming senior and supervisory positions.
According to the procedures, individuals covered by the decision will remain entitled to a wide range of employment benefits when contracted by government ministries, authorities, or state-owned companies.
These rights include:
- All types of leave granted to Kuwaiti employees in the government sector.
- Allowances, bonuses, and salary-related benefits, including periodic increments, social and children’s allowances, cost-of-living adjustments, financial rewards, incentive bonuses, and work nature allowances.
- Continuation of scholarships and study leaves, along with all related benefits, if the nationality withdrawal decree is issued after the scholarship or leave decision.
- Access to internal and external training programs in line with each governmental entity’s development plans.
- Reduced working hours where applicable under existing regulations.
- Personal rewards previously granted to the employee, if any.
- Service excellence rewards, team and committee rewards, and compensation for additional tasks.
The decision further clarifies that members of the “1965 Census” category remain eligible for allowances and bonuses such as:
- Shift, food, and sleep deprivation allowances.
- Hazard, infection, pollution, and noise allowances.
- Incentive bonuses for working in remote areas.
- Distance, route, screen, training, guard duty, and accommodation allowances.
Additionally, financial differences resulting from periodic allowances, job-level upgrades, or grade-related adjustments will continue to be paid once the employee reaches the maximum limit of periodic increments.
The CSC will determine their value, and they will be added to the comprehensive reward stipulated in the employment contract, upon request from the hiring entity.
The CSC reaffirmed that leadership and supervisory positions, along with their associated allowances, bonuses, and official foreign missions, remain exclusively reserved for Kuwaiti employees. It also emphasized adherence to regulations governing secondment, transfer, and loan procedures.
Under the new guidelines, employment contracts for individuals whose nationality has been withdrawn will be issued for one year, using a standardized model prepared by the Civil Service Bureau.
The contract will commence the day after nationality withdrawal and may be renewed directly by the employing government entity without the need for Bureau approval.
The CSC also highlighted its commitment to enforcing the Cabinet’s stipulations on immediate suspension of benefits in cases involving:
- Final judgments in felonies or crimes of moral turpitude, dishonesty, state security, or offenses against God, prophets, or the Amir
- Failure to rectify legal status, such as not restoring original nationality or not obtaining an approved residency document within one year from the publication of the withdrawal decree in the Official Gazette.
The decision underscores the government’s intention to balance the preservation of individual employment rights with the enforcement of legal and administrative boundaries tied to nationality status.
