Kuwait labour law: Quit without notice and keep benefits
PAM clarifies when workers can quit, keep benefits, or face automatic contract termination.
Under Kuwait's Labour Law, private-sector workers can resign without notice and retain end-of-service benefits if the employer breaches the contract, commits assault, or if there is a serious workplace health and safety threat.
Contracts also terminate legally upon worker death, disability, exhaustion of sick leave, or employer bankruptcy.
Kuwait's Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has issued updated guidance to clarify the legal frameworks governing employment termination. Part of PAM's "Know Your Rights" campaign, this initiative highlights the rights and obligations of both employers and private-sector employees to ensure a safe, fair, and legally compliant working environment.
When Can a Worker Quit Without Notice and Retain Benefits?
According to the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), private-sector employees in Kuwait may legally terminate an employment contract immediately—without prior notice—and still retain their full end-of-service indemnity under the following circumstances:
- Employer Breach: The employer fails to comply with the terms of the employment agreement or violates Kuwaiti Labour Law.
- Assault: The worker is physically or verbally assaulted by the employer or the employer's official representative.
- Safety Threats: The workplace poses a serious, unmitigated threat to the worker’s safety, physical health, or well-being.
Automatic Termination of Employment Contracts by Law
Kuwait's legal framework also defines specific events where an employment contract is terminated automatically by operation of law. These conditions include:
- The death of the employee.
- A proven medical inability of the employee to perform their designated job duties.
- The complete exhaustion of all statutory sick leave allocations.
- The permanent closure or liquidation of the business establishment.
- A final court ruling declaring the employer bankrupt.
Employer Rights and Dismissal Rules Under Kuwaiti Law
Employers also possess distinct rights regarding contract termination, governed by Articles 41, 44, 46, 48, 49, and 50 of the Kuwait Labour Law. The applicable regulations vary depending on the contract type and the reason for termination:
- Indefinite-Term Contracts: Employers can terminate the agreement by providing the legally mandated notice period.
- Dismissal Without Notice: In severe cases of misconduct or contract violation specified by law, an employer may dismiss a worker immediately without notice.
PAM emphasizes that any employee who believes they have been subject to an unfair or unjustified dismissal retains the legal right to challenge the termination through official administrative and legal channels.
AI contributed to the creation of this article.