Kuwait's leave policy includes provisions for annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, and special leave types. Employees are entitled to both paid and unpaid leave, ensuring a balanced work-life dynamic. Employers hiring employees from Kuwait or through an Employer of Record (EOR) in Kuwait must adhere to these regulations to maintain a supportive and compliant workplace. Understanding these leave policies is crucial for effective workforce management and legal compliance.

Annual Leave (Vacation)

• Employees in Kuwait are entitled to 30 working days of paid leave per year after completing one year of service.
• Employees in Kuwait who have worked for the same employer for two consecutive years are eligible for 21 days of paid leave to perform Al-Hajj, which is allowed once in a lifetime.

Public Holidays

• 1 Jan 2024, Monday: New Year’s Day
• 7 Feb 2024, Wednesday: Isra and Miraj
• 25 Feb 2024, Sunday: National Day
• 26 Feb 2024, Monday: Liberation Day
• 9 Apr 2024, Tuesday: Eid al-Fitr
• 10 Apr 2024, Wednesday: Eid al-Fitr
• 11 Apr 2024, Thursday: Eid al-Fitr holiday
• 16 Jun 2024, Sunday: Waqfat Arafat Day (Tentative)
• 17 Jun 2024, Monday: Eid al-Adha (Tentative)
• 18 Jun 2024, Tuesday: Eid al-Adha holiday (Tentative)
• 19 Jun 2024, Wednesday: Eid al-Adha holiday (Tentative)
• 8 Jul 2024, Monday: Islamic New Year (Tentative)
• 16 Sep 2024, Monday: The Prophet’s Birthday (Tentative)

Sick Days

• Employees in Kuwait who have worked for at least one month are entitled to paid sick leave at the following rates:
• Employees in Kuwait are entitled to 15 days of sick leave at full pay, 10 days at ¾ pay, 10 days at ½ pay, 10 days at ¼ pay, and 30 days of unpaid leave.
• Additionally, all employees must be provided with government medical insurance.

Maternity Leave

Pregnant employees in Kuwait are granted 70 days of paid maternity leave, divided into 30 days before the expected delivery date and 40 days after giving birth. Additionally, employees can request up to four extra months of unpaid leave following the conclusion of their maternity leave.

Paternity Leave

Kuwait does not provide any mandated paternity leave.

Parental Leave

Kuwait does not provide any mandated parental leave.

Other leave 

Employees in Kuwait can take up to 3 days of bereavement leave when an immediate family member passes away. A Muslim woman is entitled to fully paid leave for four months and ten days following her husband's death, while a non-Muslim woman in the same situation is entitled to 21 days of fully paid leave.

Hassle-Free Leave Policy Management in Kuwait with Gloroots

At Gloroots, we understand that managing leave policies can be complex, especially when expanding your business and hiring internationally. Our platform ensures compliance with Kuwait's labor laws, keeps accurate leave balances, processes leave requests seamlessly and generates detailed leave reports. By partnering with Gloroots, you can concentrate on growing your business while we manage the complexities of employee leave administration. Contact us to learn how Gloroots can simplify your HR processes and enhance your operations in Kuwait.