Required certification · Kuwait
Public Authority for Manpower (Kuwaitization)
Kuwait's private-sector labour regulator: work permits, working hours and Kuwaitization
Market position
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) administers private-sector employment under Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, including work permits and their transfers. Since 1 November 2025 employers must record staff working schedules on a PAM electronic platform, and since 1 July 2025 non-Kuwaiti private-sector employees need an exit permit to leave the country. On government contracts, Cabinet Resolution No. 1179 of 2023 has each tendering body set the share of Kuwaiti workers per contract.
Kuwait-specific note
Contractors bidding for public work should expect Kuwaiti-hiring conditions: under Cabinet Resolution No. 1179 of 2023 each tendering body's Kuwaitisation Unit sets the proportion of Kuwaiti workers for the contract and can penalise non-compliance. Employer social security contributions go to a separate body, the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS).
Pros
- + One regulator for private-sector work permits and labour law
- + Working schedules and exit permits handled on electronic platforms
- + Work permits can be transferred after one year of service
Cons
- − Government contracts carry Kuwaiti-hiring requirements set per contract
- − Violations can lead to suspension of the employer's file
- − Exit permit needed for every departure by non-Kuwaiti staff
- − Fees and sector quotas not readable online from outside Kuwait
Typical Kuwait pricing
Government service fees; PAM's fee schedule could not be read on 2026-09-30 because its site was unreachable from outside Kuwait.
Why this matters for Kuwait trades
The Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) runs and approves government tenders and contract awards, and its classification committee sorts general contractors into four categories by financial and technical capability; Arab Times reported that Decree-Law No. 94 of 2026 amends the Public Tenders Law, taking effect three months after its late-September 2026 gazette publication. The Ministry of Finance levies 15% corporate income tax on foreign entities and on the foreign-owned share of GCC companies, with no VAT in force. The Public Authority for Manpower administers work permits under Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, each tendering body sets the share of Kuwaiti workers on its government contracts (Cabinet Resolution No. 1179 of 2023), and employer social security contributions go to PIFSS. Kuwait Municipality issues building permits and licenses engineering offices online, and the Kuwait Fire Force (formerly the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate) licenses commercial and industrial premises, requires sprinklers in all investment housing buildings and approves firefighting companies.
Kuwait construction and trades software selection is shaped by CAPT’s role in government tenders and its classification of general contractors (with rules changing under Decree-Law No. 94 of 2026, according to Arab Times), Public Authority for Manpower rules and Kuwaiti-hiring conditions on government contracts, Kuwait Fire Force licensing and sprinkler rules, online building permits from Kuwait Municipality, and the tax position: Kuwait has not introduced VAT, while foreign-owned businesses pay 15% corporate income tax and clients retain 5% of contract payments until a tax clearance certificate is shown.
Frequently asked
Is Public Authority for Manpower (Kuwaitization) a good fit for Kuwait trades?
The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) administers private-sector employment under Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, including work permits and their transfers. Since 1 November 2025 employers must record staff working schedules on a PAM electronic platform, and since 1 July 2025 non-Kuwaiti private-sector employees need an exit permit to leave the country. On government contracts, Cabinet Resolution No. 1179 of 2023 has each tendering body set the share of Kuwaiti workers per contract. Contractors bidding for public work should expect Kuwaiti-hiring conditions: under Cabinet Resolution No. 1179 of 2023 each tendering body's Kuwaitisation Unit sets the proportion of Kuwaiti workers for the contract and can penalise non-compliance. Employer social security contributions go to a separate body, the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS).
What does Public Authority for Manpower (Kuwaitization) cost in Kuwait?
Government service fees; PAM's fee schedule could not be read on 2026-09-30 because its site was unreachable from outside Kuwait. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Kuwait pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
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Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT)
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Kuwait Tax (Ministry of Finance)
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Kuwait Municipality (Baladia)
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Kuwait Fire Force (formerly KFSD)
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