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Country hiring guide

Hiring in Kuwait 🇰🇼

Small national workforce within a majority-expatriate labour market concentrated in oil and services. Employer on-costs run ~0%* (expats) on top of gross salary. Here is what to know before your first Kuwait hire.

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OverviewFacts & statsEmployer costsLeaveTermination
Capital cityKuwait City
CurrencyKuwaiti dinar (KWD)
LanguagesArabic (official); English used in business
Population~5 million
Payroll frequencyMonthly; no statutory 13th salary
VAT standard rateNo VAT
Employer burden*~0%* (expats) of gross
TGTC flat EOR fee$699/mo · Tier C
Overview

Employing in Kuwait

Employment in Kuwait runs under its national labour code, which sets the floor for wages, working hours, leave, and notice. Here are the essentials before you make an offer.

Minimum wage

  • KWD 75/month (private sector)
  • KWD 60/month domestic workers

Payroll cycle & extra pay

  • Monthly payroll
  • No statutory 13th salary

Public holidays

  • ~9 mandatory national holidays

Onboarding & probation

  • Probation up to 100 days
Employer costs

What you pay on top of salary

Employer on-costs in Kuwait run ~0%* (expats) of gross salary. Employers pay PIFSS (~11.5%) only for nationals; expats accrue end-of-service gratuity.

Employer contribution*Rate
PIFSS social insurance (nationals)11.5% (salary cap ~KWD 2,750)
Expats - no PIFSS0%
End-of-service gratuity (expats)~8.3% accrual*

Passed through at cost

These statutory costs are paid at cost on top of TGTC's flat $699/mo fee, so you always see the real employer cost, not a marked-up percentage.

Employee-side taxes

Employees pay their own income tax and social-security share, withheld at source. Under an EOR, TGTC runs that payroll withholding for you.

Types of leave

Statutory leave in Kuwait

Annual leave

  • 30 days after 9 months service

Maternity & parental leave

  • 70 days paid (30 pre + 40 post)
  • Up to 4 months unpaid extension

Sick leave

  • 15 days full, then 75/50/25%
  • Then unpaid

Other leave

  • Hajj leave (once)
  • Bereavement/iddah leave
Employment termination

Ending employment in Kuwait

Notice

  • 3 months by either party

Severance

  • EOS gratuity: 15 days/year first 5 yrs
  • 1 month/year after, cap 1.5x annual

Probation

  • Up to 100 days
  • Dismissal without indemnity in probation

Contractor risk

  • Misclassification triggers sponsorship/visa and labour exposure

*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.

Hire in Kuwait without setting up an entity

TGTC employs your hire in Kuwait on a compliant local contract, runs payroll and benefits, and passes statutory costs through at cost. One invoice, flat $699 per month.

Get a Kuwait quote