Kuwait minister warns firms over late salaries to expats

If you’re an expat worker in Kuwait waiting on a salary that should have landed in your account weeks ago, you’re not alone – and now the country’s top security official is talking about it in public.

Kuwait’s Interior Minister Shaikh Fahad Al Yousef used a press conference on labour issues to tell business owners to treat every employee fairly and pay salaries on time, no matter their nationality. It comes as the ministry has already been cracking down on companies over late salary payments in recent weeks.

What did the minister actually say?

Speaking at the press conference, Shaikh Fahad questioned business owners directly. He asked why some companies give priority to Kuwaiti staff when it comes to pay day, while expatriate workers are left waiting.

He didn’t name specific companies. But the message was clear: nationality shouldn’t decide who gets paid first, or who gets paid at all, on time.

The minister also brought up the cost of living in Kuwait, which has been rising for everyone. He said many expatriate workers haven’t seen their wages go up to match this, and asked employers to show more understanding towards them.

Why is this coming up now?

Shaikh Fahad referred to a labour strike that happened because workers hadn’t been paid. He didn’t give further detail on which company or sector this involved in the remarks reported, but it’s clearly part of why this issue is on his desk right now.

He said labour laws need to be enforced strictly, so that salaries are paid on time across the board. This isn’t a new law or a new fee – it’s a minister putting pressure on employers to follow rules that already exist.

This fits a pattern we’ve been following. Authorities recently said they would shut the files of companies that don’t pay salaries on time, and a list of nearly 8,849 firms was flagged over late payments. The government has also rolled out a new wage protection system to track whether private-sector salaries actually go out each month.

What has the minister actually done about it?

Shaikh Fahad said he has personally contacted employers across Kuwait to check that outstanding salaries have been settled. That’s a fairly direct, hands-on move for an Interior Minister, and it signals this isn’t just a speech – there’s follow-up happening behind it.

For workers who feel ignored when they complain to HR, that matters. It suggests the pressure is coming from the top of government now, not only from labour inspectors.

If you want the wider picture on how Kuwait tracks pay, our explainer on the digital salary system covers how the government checks whether wages are actually transferred each month.

So who does this affect?

This matters most to expatriate workers in the private sector – the people most likely to see their pay delayed. It also matters to Kuwaiti employees working alongside them, since the minister’s comments touch on fairness between staff of different nationalities at the same company.

Employers are the ones under direct pressure here. If your company has a history of paying late, this is a signal that scrutiny is increasing, not easing off.

What can workers do if they’re not being paid on time?

If your salary is late, you don’t have to just wait and hope. Kuwait’s Sahel app (the government’s official mobile app) now lets workers report labour violations directly to the Ministry, including unpaid wages.

It also helps to know your rights around contracts and termination. We’ve covered Kuwait’s rules on firing, resigning and termination, as well as the newer notice period and end-of-service rights that apply if you decide to leave a job over unpaid pay.

You can find more local news from Kuwait on how the government is handling labour issues as this story develops.

Quick answers