Kuwait approves full employment entitlements for female government workers stripped of citizenship

Dubai: Kuwait has officially approved a decision allowing female government employees who have lost their citizenship under Article (8) of the nationality law to retain their full employment entitlements, including leave, salaries, and allowances, in accordance with civil service regulations.

In a circular issued to government entities, the Civil Service Bureau confirmed that the Civil Service Council has endorsed the continued provision of all types of leave—such as annual, maternity, and sick leave—regardless of the employee’s citizenship status. The decision, the Bureau said, is designed to safeguard job security and preserve the rights of affected public sector employees.

The approval also guarantees the uninterrupted payment of basic salaries, periodic bonuses, social and children’s bonuses, cost-of-living allowances, financial support, incentive and special bonuses, job level allowances, and work nature bonuses.

In addition, affected employees will remain eligible for annual excellence bonuses, compensation for extra tasks, and incentives for participating in committees and work teams, provided they meet the established criteria.

The Bureau clarified that women in this category will continue to benefit from reduced working hours as stipulated by law and retain any personal bonuses granted to them under prior decisions.
Significantly, the decision also ensures that those who received study leave or scholarships before the revocation of citizenship will continue to enjoy all associated academic benefits for the duration of their programs. They will also remain eligible for internal and external training courses under their respective institution’s development plans.

While the measures provide broad job-related protections, the Civil Service Council noted that supervisory positions, official foreign assignments, and associated allowances will remain exclusive to Kuwaiti nationals. Transfers, secondments, and loans will continue to be regulated by relevant administrative guidelines.

The Bureau also confirmed that employees whose citizenship was revoked under Article (8) will continue to receive financial adjustments for salary grade promotions, job level upgrades, and performance-related increases, subject to submission of formal requests by their respective employers. These increments will be added to the comprehensive remuneration outlined in their employment contracts.
In addition to the above, affected individuals will still be entitled to a wide range of allowances, including shift, night, food, hazard, infection, pollution, noise, regional hardship, distance, and road allowances, as well as screen and training incentives and housing support—provided they meet the conditions set forth in existing regulations.