The Minister of Trade and Industry in Kuwait, Dr. Abduallah Al Salman announced that a ministerial decree has been issued to allow employees to work in a Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to transfer their work permit to another SME after a year, instead of three years.
For the work permit to be transferred, the employer approval is necessary. Prior to the decision, those having an SME work permit were able to transfer jobs only after three years from the date of issue of the work permit.
People whose work permit has been registered under an SME that has been barred from transfer to the governmental sector, and also to the non-SME private sector companies.
The decision has been issued owing to high demand for labour, and the current ban on issuing fresh visas or work permits for anybody who does not have a valid work permit for anybody who does not have a valid work permit.
In the month of August, the Director of Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), Ahmed Al Mousa said that a directive has been issued to permit transfer of labour between SMEs without the need to attach a wage transfer certificate until the year-end, provided, the company file is not suspended.
