Managing employee leave entitlements is a critical aspect of compliance and employee satisfaction when operating in Kuwait. The country's labor law provides clear guidelines on various types of leave, ensuring employees receive adequate time off for rest, illness, family events, and national observances. Understanding these regulations is essential for employers to maintain legal compliance and foster a positive working environment.
Employers in Kuwait must adhere to the provisions outlined in the Kuwait Labour Law regarding vacation, public holidays, sick leave, and other forms of absence. These entitlements vary based on factors such as length of service and the specific type of leave required.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Kuwait are entitled to paid annual leave. The minimum entitlement is set by law and accrues based on the employee's length of service.
- Minimum Entitlement: Employees who have completed one year of service are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave. This entitlement is for working days, excluding public holidays and sick leave.
- Accrual: Leave starts accruing from the first day of employment. An employee is typically eligible to take leave after completing the probation period, often three months, though the full 30 days are only available after one year of service. Leave can be taken proportionally before completing one year, based on the accrued amount.
- Timing: The employer determines the timing of the annual leave, but it must be granted within the year it becomes due. Employees cannot waive their right to annual leave.
- Carry Over: The law permits employees to carry over a portion of their annual leave to the following year, typically up to 30 days, with the employer's agreement. Any leave exceeding this limit or not taken within the specified period may be forfeited, although company policies might be more generous.
- Payment in Lieu: Upon termination of employment, employees are entitled to payment in lieu of any accrued but untaken annual leave.
Public Holidays
Kuwait observes several public holidays throughout the year, during which employees are typically entitled to paid time off. Some holidays have fixed dates, while others, particularly those based on the Islamic calendar, vary each year depending on moon sighting.
Expected Public Holidays in Kuwait (2025 - Note: Islamic holidays are approximate and subject to moon sighting):
| Holiday | Approximate Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| National Day | February 25 |
| Liberation Day | February 26 |
| Isra' Mi'raj (Ascension) | February 26 |
| Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) | March 30 - April 1 |
| Arafat Day | June 6 |
| Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) | June 7 - June 9 |
| Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year) | June 27 |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | September 5 |
If a public holiday falls on a Friday (the standard weekend day), the government may declare the following day (Saturday) as a compensatory holiday. Employees required to work on a public holiday are typically entitled to receive double pay for the hours worked or compensatory time off.
Sick Leave
Employees in Kuwait are entitled to paid sick leave upon presenting a medical certificate from a recognized medical center or doctor. The entitlement is tiered based on the duration of the sick leave within a single year.
The maximum sick leave entitlement in one year is 75 days, paid as follows:
| Duration of Sick Leave | Payment Rate |
|---|---|
| First 15 days | 100% of wages |
| Following 10 days | 75% of wages |
| Following 10 days | 50% of wages |
| Following 10 days | 25% of wages |
| Following 30 days | Unpaid |
Sick leave entitlement renews annually. Employees must notify their employer of their absence due to illness and provide the required medical documentation.
Parental Leave
Kuwaiti labor law provides specific entitlements for maternity leave. Paternity and adoption leave are not explicitly mandated by the standard labor law for the private sector but may be offered by employers as a company benefit or covered under specific regulations for certain sectors (e.g., public sector).
- Maternity Leave: A female employee is entitled to 30 days of paid leave before the expected date of delivery and 40 days of paid leave after the delivery, provided she presents a medical certificate. This totals 70 days of paid maternity leave. After exhausting the paid leave, she may take an additional 4 months of unpaid leave. The employee is also entitled to a two-hour nursing break per day for up to two years after the delivery, which can be split into two one-hour breaks.
Other Types of Leave
Kuwait's labor law also addresses other specific circumstances requiring employee absence.
- Bereavement Leave: In the event of the death of a close relative (spouse, parent, child), an employee is typically entitled to paid leave. The specific duration can vary, but commonly it is 3-4 days.
- Hajj Leave: Muslim employees who have completed at least two years of service with the same employer are entitled to 30 days of paid leave to perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). This leave can be taken only once during the employee's tenure with the employer.
- Study Leave: The standard private sector labor law does not mandate paid study leave. However, employers may offer it as a benefit, or it might be available under specific contracts or for employees in the public sector.
- Marriage Leave: While not explicitly mandated by the standard private sector labor law, some companies may offer a few days of paid leave for an employee's marriage as a company policy.
