Thirty-six individuals accused of law infringements were apprehended while engaged in work on the PAM Mutlaa Housing Project.
In a bid to regulate the labor market and tighten oversight of project sites, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAHW) has announced the arrest of 36 workers during a joint inspection campaign in Al-Mutlaa City.
The crackdown, coordinated with the Residence Affairs Investigations Department, was carried out under the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef. The housing project where the arrests took place is managed by the Public Authority for Housing Affairs, but the nature or scale of the project is not detailed.
Among the arrested during this campaign were 15 domestic workers and 21 persons contracted to work on farms. The PAHW urged employers to comply with labor laws and avoid hiring illegal workers.
The current laws and regulations in Kuwait mandate that all expatriates in the private sector must obtain a work permit issued through their employer, who must be registered with the Public Authority for Manpower. Work permits are location and job-specific, typically taking 4-8 weeks to process. As of July 1, 2025, all foreign nationals employed in the private sector must obtain an employer-approved exit permit prior to departing the country.
Labor regulations in Kuwait also include protections such as prohibiting outdoor work during peak summer heat hours (11:00 am to 4:00 pm from June 1 to August 31) to safeguard worker health.
Violators of labor laws, including those hiring illegal workers, will face strict legal consequences. Although specific penalties are not detailed, standard Kuwaiti labor and immigration laws impose fines, deportation, or bans on re-entry for violations like working without a permit, changing jobs without approval, or leaving the country without the required exit permit. Employers failing to comply with sponsorship, visa, and exit permit requirements may face legal sanctions.
The PAHW affirmed that such inspection campaigns will continue, working with relevant bodies to ensure a lawful and organized work environment across all projects. The press statement was issued by the PAHW, indicating an official announcement.
In light of the ongoing focus on enforcing labor laws, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAHW) has announced that the ongoing crackdown on illegal workers, including those in the general-news category of domestic workers and the crime-and-justice sector of farm laborers, is part of a series of inspections coordinated with the Residence Affairs Investigations Department. These actions follow the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, aimed at maintaining a lawful and organized work environment across all projects in Kuwait.
