Kuwait Labour Law Inspection and penalties: Articles 133–142
Inspection powers and statutory penalties.
This chapter gives PAM's labour inspectors their powers and sets the penalties for breaking the law.
Inspectors can inspect workplaces and records, and a workplace can be closed where there is a safety danger. Obstructing an inspector is itself an offence, with a fine of KD 500 to 1,000, doubled for a repeat (Article 140).
The heaviest penalties target visa trading and employing workers outside the rules: up to three years' imprisonment and/or a fine of KD 2,000 to 10,000 per worker (Article 138). There are also fines for not paying wages through bank accounts (Article 139) and for breaching a closure order (Article 142).
Most penalties are avoidable with clean records: contracts, payroll transfers, schedules registered on PAM and an up-to-date workforce file.
Articles 133–142
- Labour inspectors (Art. 133)The competent employees designated by a resolution from the Minister shall have the capacity of judicial officers to…
- Inspection powers (Art. 134)The employees referred to in the preceding Article shall have access to the establishments during the official…
- Closure for safety danger (Art. 135)In the event where employers violate the provisions of Articles 83, 84 and 86 of this Law and the resolutions passed…
- Tickets for informal workers (Art. 136)Employees entrusted with the inspection shall have the authority to write violation tickets to workers who work in…
- Fines for key violations (Art. 137)Up to KD 500 for violating Articles 8 and 35.
- Penalty for visa trading (Art. 138)Employing workers without a permit or bringing in workers without employing them: imprisonment for up to 3 years and/or a fine of KD 2,000–10,000 per worker. The same penalty applies to an employer who employs a worker in breach of these requirements (2016 amendment).
- Fine for not paying to bank accounts (Art. 139)Failure to transfer wages to a bank: a fine up to the total wages.
- Obstructing inspectors (Art. 140)Obstructing PAM inspectors: a fine of KD 500–1,000, doubled for repeat offences (2016 amendment).
- General penalty for other violations (Art. 141)A 3-month warning, then KD 100–200 for each employee.
- Violating a closure order (Art. 142)Breaching a closure or suspension decision: imprisonment for 1–6 months and/or a fine of KD 500–2,000 (2016 amendment).
This text follows PAM's January 2025 consolidated English edition; this local copy was not independently checked and is not legal advice.
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