Kuwait allows temporary transfer of workers from restricted sectors with employer approval
Manpower Authority to reject complaints outside approved scope as two month decision takes effect
The Public Authority for Manpower will not accept complaints related to the transfer of workers from restricted sectors outside their designated activities, Director General Eng. Rabab Al-Osaimi has confirmed.
Al-Osaimi said the decision is temporary and remains subject to the approval of the original employer.
The move comes ahead of the implementation of Decision No. (2/2026), issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Chairman of the Authority’s Board, Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef. The decision allows the transfer of workers recruited under certain restricted sectors, including small and medium enterprises, industry, agriculture, grazing, and fishing, under specific controls and for a limited period.
Al-Osaimi said the decision will be implemented from the beginning of May until the end of June, for a period of two months, reflecting the state’s commitment to balancing the interests of both employers and workers, while maintaining the requirement for the original employer’s consent.
She explained that the authority will not receive labour complaints related to transfers outside the framework of the decision, stressing that all existing legal controls, conditions, and regulatory timelines will remain in place to safeguard the rights of all parties, prevent violations, and curb random transfers that could disrupt market stability.
Al-Osaimi added that the decision is part of ongoing efforts to regulate the labour market and introduce practical solutions that consider the interests of both workers and employers, while responding to current regional conditions. She described it as a reassuring step by the government to ensure business continuity and prevent disruptions during exceptional circumstances.
Applications to benefit from the decision will be submitted through the “As’hal/Companies” service, where employers seeking to transfer workers must file requests through the designated platform. Approval from the original employer, under whose sponsorship the workers are registered, remains a mandatory condition for processing the transfer.
She stressed that maintaining labour market stability is a national priority, noting that the decision forms part of broader reforms aimed at improving the business environment and addressing long standing labour market challenges.
The measure is also expected to enhance the utilisation of available workforce, allowing workers in restricted sectors to move into other areas, particularly the private sector, instead of remaining underutilised, especially as transfer restrictions for these sectors have been in place for several years.
Source: Al Jarida
