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What Is the Legal Basis for Your Employment Contract?
Kuwait's Law No. 6 of 2010 concerning Labour in the Private Sector governs employment relationships in the private sector. This law establishes the minimum rights for all workers — meaning your employer cannot offer you less than what the law provides, but they can offer more. If your individual contract, a collective agreement, or your company's internal policies give you better benefits, those better terms will apply.
Must Your Contract Be in Writing?
Yes. Under Article 28, every employment contract must be in writing. The contract must clearly state:
- The date the contract was signed
- The date it takes effect
- Your salary
- The duration of the contract (if it is fixed-term)
- The nature of your work
Three copies must be made: one for you, one for your employer, and one deposited with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (now administered through the General Authority for Manpower). If your employer fails to provide a written contract, the law still recognizes that an employment relationship exists and you retain the right to prove its terms by any available means of evidence.
What Language Must the Contract Be In?
Under Article 29, all contracts must be written in Arabic. A translation into another language (such as English) may be added, but in the event of any dispute, the Arabic text is the legally binding version. As an expat, this is critically important — always ask for a full English translation and compare it carefully with the Arabic original before signing.
Fixed-Term vs. Open-Ended Contracts
Article 30 specifies that if your contract is fixed-term:
- It must be at least one year in duration
- It must not exceed five years
- It can be renewed by mutual agreement when it expires
If no duration is specified, the contract is considered open-ended (indefinite). Both types carry different implications for end-of-service benefits and termination rules, so understanding which type you have matters greatly.
Special Rules for Workers Under 18
Under Article 27, workers aged 15 and above have legal capacity to sign an employment contract. However, if the contract is fixed-term, it cannot exceed one year for workers under the age of 18.
Practical Tips for Expats
- Always request your copy of the contract in both Arabic and English before you start work.
- Check the salary figure carefully — ensure it matches what was verbally promised.
- Verify the contract duration — know whether you are on a fixed or open-ended contract.
- Keep copies of all signed documents in a safe place outside of your employer's premises.
- If your employer refuses to provide a written contract, consider seeking advice from the General Authority for Manpower in Kuwait.
- Remember: your contract cannot give you less than the law's minimum — if it does, those clauses are unenforceable.
Who Is Covered by This Law?
The law applies to all workers in the private sector (Article 2). Domestic workers are excluded from this law and are covered by separate ministerial decisions. Workers in the oil sector and maritime sector are covered by this law only where their specific sector laws do not already address a particular issue or where this law provides better benefits.
Key Takeaway
Your employment contract is your primary legal protection as an expat worker in Kuwait. Make sure it is written, signed, properly filed, and that you fully understand the Arabic version before you agree to anything.