Finance Ministry studying new mechanism to reform Kuwait’s public sector salary system

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission, has begun studying new mechanisms to reform the salary and wage system in Kuwait’s ministries and government institutions.

This effort is part of the government’s broader financial and economic reform agenda and aims to revise the current salary scale to ensure fairness and equity among employees.

According to informed sources, the study is being overseen by Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Eng. Noura Al-Fassam. It involves a comprehensive review of the “Strategic Alternative” salary project previously drafted by the CSC, with the goal of correcting structural flaws in the public wage system.

The long-term vision guiding the study emphasizes transparency and improved efficiency in human resource management. It will include revisions, updates, and potential additions to the provisions of the original strategic project to better reflect the needs of Kuwait’s evolving labor market.

Core principles of the review include achieving justice and equality across public sector roles, reorganizing workforce structures based on institutional needs, and supporting the recruitment of qualified national talent capable of advancing Kuwait’s development goals.

The ministry aims to resolve inconsistencies in how similar job roles are evaluated across ministries and entities, address wage gaps between different public institutions, and create a more motivating work environment. These reforms are designed to support fiscal sustainability and reduce labor market distortions.

The initiative centers on five key objectives — addressing salary disparities, achieving fairness among employees, organizing workforce structures, attracting national talent and ensuring economic balance and sustainability

This marks a significant step toward reshaping Kuwait’s public employment system to meet future challenges and development needs.