It’s essential to find talented employees who will help your new company location grow, but it’s also important to stay compliant. If you don’t meet Kuwait’s employment compliance laws, you could face fines and potential delays. Here are a few important things to know about recruiting and hiring in Kuwait.
Recruiting in Kuwait
In addition to learning about the culture in Kuwait, you should take some time to consider the logistics of the recruitment process. Do you have a plan for sourcing talent in-country? Are you familiar with the laws your company will need to follow when you’re hiring and recruiting?
Recruiting in a country where your company doesn’t have an established presence may take longer than you’re used to. Instead of relying on personal recommendations, we suggestion leveraging job boards and advertising in local papers.
Laws against discrimination in Kuwait
When you’re hiring and recruiting in Kuwait, it’s important to make sure your company complies with the country’s legal requirements. Kuwait’s constitution states that every citizen has the right and duty to work. The law also states that there should be no differentiation between people based on the following grounds:
- Gender
- Religion
- Language
- Origin
Some of these characteristics may be apparent as you get to know your prospective employees, but it’s critical to make sure they don’t factor into your company’s hiring decisions.
Kuwait employment laws
Since a large portion of the population in Kuwait is made up of citizens from other countries, you’ll have to follow a whole different set of Kuwait employment compliance laws. You’ll need to get a residency permit for 1, 2, or 3 years. The steps include determining eligibility to work through the Immigration Department, completing a work permit application and submitting it to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, obtaining a pre-entry medical visa endorsement, and more.
Companies also need to use an employment contract to hire employees in Kuwait — either fixed or indefinite. Contracts should be in writing, follow the set format, and include details like salary, job duties, and term of employment. You should make 3 copies of every employment contract, 1 for each party and the remaining should be lodged with the competent ministry. All compensation and salary amounts in a contract or offer letter need to be in Kuwaiti dinar instead of another currency.
Onboarding in Kuwait
After finding your ideal candidate, you can choose how you want to onboard them. Generally, we recommend reviewing all employment contracts and other important documents during an employee’s first day. Then, you can provide necessary on-the-job training for their specific position. If you’re available to travel to Kuwait to meet with new employees, consider hosting a meeting with multiple new hires at once to welcome them to your company.
Grow globally with G-P.
G-P never forgets that behind every hire is a human being. That’s why we’ve backed our fully customizable suite of global employment products with our robust team of HR and legal experts, so we can remain at your side, ready to support you as you build your global teams. With the #1 global employment platform, you have the recruitment tools and services you need to find your perfect full-time or contract match.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you recruit, hire, and onboard anyone, anywhere.