The active population in figures

Note: (e) Estimated data

Working conditions

Legal weekly duration

8 hours per day, 48 hours per week.

Retirement age

60 years old.

Working contracts

The private sector has two types of contracts:  Contract for unlimited time and contract for limited time which cannot exceed five years.  It is mandatory that  all contracts have to be written in Arabic, but they can be translated if the employee does not speak Arabic.

Cost of labor

Minimum wage

There is not a legal minimum wage in the private sector. However, in the public sector, the minimum wage is approximately 200 dinars (USD690) per month for Kuwaiti citizens.

Average wage

The average salary of a Kuwaiti is about KWD 1,000 per month (3,749 USD).

Social contributions

Social security contributions paid by employers: Employers are not  required to contribute for the foreign labor force they recruit.
Social security contributions paid by employees: For foreign labor force, this system is not mandatory.

Social partners

Social dialogue and involvement of social partners

Creation of syndicates (unions) is limited.  All syndicates (about 15) are regrouped under the Kuwaiti Federation of Syndicates.  Foreign domestic workers, who represent one third of the active population, do not have the right to be affiliated to a syndicate.

Unions

Kuwait Trade Union Federation

Unionization rate

5 % of the active population is affiliated to a syndicate (union).

Labor regulation bodies

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs & Electricity and Water