Kuwait handle notices to help expats readjust status

Kuwait’s labour authorities are handling thousands of 'absence' complaints filed by employers against expat workers to help rectify their illegal stay status, a local newspaper said.

The Kuwait Interior Ministry has given grace period until the end of December for such expatriates to readjust their status and comply with labour regulations.

Absence notices prevent workers involved from paying related fines and legalise their status in the country. The State Public Authority of Manpower is seeking to protect rights of workers in the private sector as well as those of their employers.

“About the absenteeism cases, the worker has to apply for handling the complaint. Should conditions for looking into the complaint be met, it would be examined by the Labour Relations Directorate,” Al Rai quoted a source at the agency as saying.

“When a final approval is obtained for work transfer, the absence notice against the worker is dropped. But if this approval is not secured, the absence notice is not dropped unless the employer renounces the complaint,” the source explained.

However, the complaint could be dropped without the employer’s consent in certain cases.