Kuwait Limits Expat Hiring to Reshape Labour Market

Kuwait is stepping up its labour market regulations with new restrictions on hiring expatriate workers. The changes are aimed at making sure employees' qualifications actually match the jobs they’re hired for and it’s going to be a lot harder to bend the rules.

According to local media reports, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) now requires pre-approval for certain job roles before applicants can even begin the process of getting security clearance from the Ministry of Interior. These new requirements mainly target professions that involve security vetting, adding another layer of checks before any work permit is issued.

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Selective Hiring Still Allows Key Roles

Despite the stricter process, PAM made it clear that work permits are still being issued for doctors, engineers, and workers under government contracts from Egypt. Some exceptional cases will also be considered, so the door isn’t entirely closed, just narrower.

No More Playing Around With Job Titles

In a related move, Kuwait’s Acting Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al Sabah, signed off on Ministerial Circular No. 1/2025, which freezes any changes to an expat worker’s academic qualifications or job title. If someone was hired as a technician, for example, they can’t suddenly try to become a “senior engineer” by upgrading paperwork, unless the change makes sense for the job they were originally brought in to do.

This new rule was shared via PAM’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, highlighting the government’s ongoing push to clean up job mismatches and improve transparency in the labour market.

Why It Matters

Both these steps are part of a bigger effort to protect local talent and ensure fair competition in the job market. Kuwaitis have long expressed frustration over being sidelined in favour of cheaper or misclassified expat labour, especially in the private sector.

So what’s the takeaway? If you’re planning to work in Kuwait, or hire expats there, it’s time to double-check that the job title and qualifications actually match up. Because from now on, the authorities will be watching much more closely.