Legislation No. 63 from 2025 supersedes the 1963 Law No. 12, essentially discontinuing its rules governing the internal affairs of the National Assembly.
The Sweeping Decree Hijacking Kuwait's Parliamentary Operations
Kuwait has made a drastic move, enacting Decree-Law No. 63 of 2025, an action that shuffles the deck of parliamentary and civil service regulations.
Sweeping Away the Old Order: Parliamentary Freeze
The decree brings about the suspension of Law No. 12 of 1963, the internal guidelines of the National Assembly, a bold step in the continuous parliamentary freeze triggered by the Amiri Order of May 10, 2024, which dissolved the Assembly[1][3]. Under this suspension, the General Secretariat's administrative and employment affairs now fall under the watchful eye of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, thanks to Article 178 of Law No. 12[1]. The suspension will persist until either the four-year parliamentary freeze ends or a fresh Assembly ascends to the throne, whichever comes sooner[1].
Welcome to the Big Leagues: Civil Service Amendments
Concurrently, an Amiri Decree No. 63 of 2025 (issued in April 2025) made changes to the Civil Service System by scrapping the third paragraph of Article 41 of the 1979 decree, earlier allowing cash compensation for leftover periodic leave[2][4]. Employees across various sectors – including the National Assembly staff under transition – are now deprived of financial perks for their accrued leave[2]. The amendment kicked off immediately upon publication, reflecting either austerity measures or ongoing administrative reforms[2][4].
The Aftermath: Key Impacts- Twist of Power: The regulatory framework of the National Assembly remains on pause, ceding administrative control to the executive branch[1].- New Team Players: Secretariat staff are now part of the broader civil service family, conceding some parliamentary autonomy[1].- ** employee Benefits**: Civil servants brace for stricter leave compensation rules, potentially impacting workforce motivation and compensation[2][4].
These changes reflect Kuwait's swing toward centralized governance and fiscal restraint amid ongoing constitutional and legislative appraisals[1][2].
In light of Kuwait's parliamentary shakeup, Decree-Law No. 63 of 2025 suspends the internal guidelines of the National Assembly (policy-and-legislation) under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, marking a significant shift in politics. The suspension follows the Amiri Order of May 10, 2024, which dissolved the Assembly and continued with the parliamentary freeze. Meanwhile, Amiri Decree No. 63 of 2025 ( April 2025) amends the Civil Service System, eliminating cash compensation for accrued leave (general-news). This alteration affects employees, including National Assembly staff, signifying a move towards centralized governance and fiscal restraint in Kuwait.
