Kuwait’s private-sector Labour Law (No. 6 of 2010), explained in simple English: all 150 articles, the latest amendments and real-life examples.
Popular topics
- Article 51Terminal Service Indemnity
- Article 53Partial Entitlement to Indemnity
- Article 70Paid Annual Leaves
- Article 69Sick Leave
- Article 44Termination with Notice
- Article 66Overtime Work Regulations
- Article 64Working Hours
- Article 48Right to Terminate Without Notice
- Article 32Probation Period
- Article 24Maternity Leave
- Article 68Official Holidays
- Article 42Deemed Resignation
Latest updates
Electronic recording of working hours, breaks and rest days becomes mandatory (Ministerial Resolution 15/2025) · Art. 64
Full indemnity for Kuwaiti nationals without social-security deductions (Law 17/2018) · Art. 51
Full end-of-service indemnity, no PIFSS deduction (Law 85/2017) · Art. 51
Older updates
All articles by chapter
General Provisions1–6
Employment & Labour Force7–11
Apprenticeship & Vocational Training12–18
Employment of Juveniles19–21
Employment of Women22–26
Employment Contracts27–34
Disciplinary Penalties & Deductions35–40
Termination of Contract41–50
- 41Termination of Service
- 42Deemed Resignation
- 43Suspension Due to Imprisonment
- 44Termination with Notice
- 45Leaves
- 46Non-Discrimination in Termination
- 47Limited Period Contract Termination
- 48Right to Terminate Without Notice
- 49Contract Expiration Due to Death or Disability
- 50Contract Expiration Events
End-of-Service Indemnity51–54
Wages55–63
Working Hours, Rest Days & Holidays64–68
Leaves69–79
Occupational Safety & Health80–87
Work Injuries & Compensation88–97
Trade Unions98–110
- 98Trade Union Rights
- 99Formation of Trade Unions
- 100Trade Union Establishment Procedures
- 101Articles of Association Requirements
- 102Incorporation Documents
- 103Compliance with Laws
- 104Guidance by the Ministry
- 105Canteens and Restaurants
- 106Formation of General Federation
- 107Accession to International Federations
- 108Dissolution of Organizations
- 109Rights of Trade Union Members
- 110Legal Representation in Disputes
Collective Employment Contracts111–122
- 111Collective Employment Contract Definition
- 112Writing Requirement for Contracts
- 113Limited Duration of Contract
- 114Termination of Collective Contract
- 115Validity of Contract Conditions
- 116Registration of Collective Contracts
- 117Levels of Collective Contracts
- 118Applicability of Contract Provisions
- 119Union Withdrawal
- 120Joining Collective Agreements
- 121Applicability of Trade Union Contracts
- 122Legal Representation in Disputes
Collective Labour Disputes123–132
- 123Collective Labour Conflicts
- 124Resolution of Collective Conflicts
- 125Application for Amicable Settlement
- 126Composition of Reconciliation Committee
- 127Timeframe for Resolution
- 128Formation of Arbitration Board
- 129Timeframe for Arbitration
- 130Powers of the Arbitration Board
- 131Ministry Intervention
- 132Prohibition of Work Stoppage
Labour Inspection133–136
Penalties137–142
Final Provisions143–150
Questions
What is the current labour law in Kuwait for the private sector?
Kuwait’s private sector is governed by Law No. 6 of 2010, which has 150 articles. It was amended by Law No. 85 of 2017 (Articles 51 and 70) and Law No. 17 of 2018 (Article 51), and is supported by ministerial resolutions such as Resolution 15 of 2025 on recording working hours.
How many days of annual leave do workers get in Kuwait?
Workers get 30 days of paid annual leave a year (Article 70). Since 2017, leave can be taken after 6 months in the first year, and rest days, holidays and sick days inside the leave are not counted.
How is end-of-service indemnity calculated?
Under Article 51, monthly-paid workers get 15 days’ pay for each of the first 5 years and one month’s pay for each year after, up to 18 months’ pay. Workers who resign get a reduced share under Article 53.
What are the legal working hours in Kuwait?
The maximum is 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week, and 36 hours a week during Ramadan (Article 64). Overtime is paid at least 25% extra (Article 66).
What notice period applies in Kuwait?
For monthly-paid workers on open-ended contracts, the notice period is at least 3 months (Article 44). The side that doesn’t give notice must pay salary for the notice period.
Does the labour law cover domestic workers?
No. Domestic workers are covered by Law No. 68 of 2015, not Law No. 6 of 2010 (Article 5).
Sources
- Kuwait Law No. 6 of 2010 (Private Sector Labour Law), official English translation – Public Authority for Manpower
- Law No. 85 of 2017 amending Law No. 6 of 2010 – ILO NATLEX record
- Law No. 17 of 2018 amending Law No. 6 of 2010 – ILO NATLEX record
- Ministerial Resolution No. 15 of 2025 on electronic recording of working hours – HFW summary
Last checked October 2026. ★ = updated article.
General information, not legal advice. The Arabic text of the law is the official version (Article 29). For your case, contact the Public Authority for Manpower or a lawyer.