Public sector expatriates in Kuwait allowed to switch sponsors

Manama: Kuwait-based expatriates on government contracts are now allowed to transfer their residencies to new sponsors without the need for approval.

Under the new rules endorsed by the labour minister, the expatriate employee must have spent three consecutive years with the sponsor and must notify him or her three months in advance. During the three months notification period, employers are not allowed to file absconding complaints against the employees, Kuwaiti daily Al Watan reported on Thursday, quoting Jamal Al Dossari, the labour assistant undersecretary.

Employees with no specific contract deadline and who wish to avoid controversies over the notification period should contact the labour ministry whose officials will contact sponsors, Al Dossari said. However, employees under contracts with predetermined timeframes have to commit to the agreed period of time and will not be allowed to transfer their residencies even if they were employed for three years.

Nevertheless, employees can benefit of the new labour clause allowing sponsorship switch if they prove that their employers violated their labour rights.