Kuwait moves to digitize labor complaints, eases process for workers

● The Public Authority for Manpower said the new system will handle financial claims, including unpaid wages and end-of-service benefits, as well as cases involving withheld documents, exit requests, and employer transfers.

● The employment agreement between Kuwait and Ethiopia is nearing final approval, with Kuwait’s manpower authority awaiting a response from Ethiopian officials on a key issue before completing the recruitment process.

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is streamlining labor complaint procedures to allow affected workers to submit grievances digitally, eliminating the need for in-person visits except when legally required.

According to Al-Jarida newspaper, PAM’s Expatriate Labor Protection Affairs Sector, led by Dr. Fahd Al-Murad, is advancing the digitization of private-sector labor complaints, ensuring near-total automation. This initiative aims to expedite complaint submissions and align with Kuwait’s broader efforts to safeguard expatriate workers’ rights while enhancing the country’s standing with international labor and human rights organizations.

The new system will handle financial claims, including unpaid wages and end-of-service benefits, as well as cases involving withheld documents, exit requests, and employer transfers.

Ethiopian labor agreement

Meanwhile, sources revealed that the implementation of Decree No. 174 of 2024, which approves the employment agreement between Kuwait and Ethiopia, is in its final stages. Kuwait’s manpower authority is awaiting a response from Ethiopian officials on a key point before finalizing the recruitment process.

With a growing demand for domestic workers, particularly ahead of Ramadan, Ethiopian workers are seen as a viable solution to potential shortages, given the limited availability of labor from other countries Kuwait traditionally relies on.

Heading to transfer deposits from Jleeb shelter to Hawalli

Sources told the newspaper that the Public Authority for Manpower is currently studying the transfer of female workers being held at the Women’s Shelter in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh to the new center in Hawalli, designated for male workers, which the authority opened.

The Jleeb center will be designated for men. Several reasons support this trend, the first being the advantageous location of the Hawalli center, which is close to most domestic worker recruitment offices, unlike the Jleeb center, surrounded by residential buildings on all sides. Additionally, the Hawalli center has not yet received any male workers, greatly facilitating the transfer process.