Kuwait’s Interior Minister has a clear message for companies that delay pay: “Pay the salaries!” Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, who is also First Deputy Prime Minister and chairs the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), warned employers on 22 October 2026 that late salaries have reached an alarming level and that the law will be applied. If your own salary is late, here is what is happening and what you can do.
What The Minister Said
He told business owners to pay all workers on time, Kuwaitis and expats alike, and criticised firms that pay local staff first and delay expat wages. He also said expat salaries have not kept up with rising food prices and living costs, and named unpaid wages as a main cause of labour protests.
The Numbers Behind It
- Files of about 10,000 companies are under investigation for not paying salaries, some for up to four months.
- About 8,450 company files were suspended until June this year for non-payment, according to PAM.
- PAM says the share of salaries paid rose to 75.6% in July 2026, up from 38.7% in July 2025.
- PAM is working with the Central Bank of Kuwait so that salaries are paid into workers’ local bank accounts.
Salary Late? 4 Steps To Take
- Keep proof. Save your contract, Civil ID, work permit, bank statements that show the missing salary, payslips and any messages about pay.
- Ask HR in writing. Send an email or message asking for a payment date, and keep the reply.
- File a complaint with PAM. Go to a PAM labour office or use PAM’s online services. PAM also has a “Report to Us” service in the Sahel app for labour violations.
- Mediation, then court. PAM calls your employer for a settlement meeting. If that fails, the case is sent to the Labour Court.
What Not To Do
- Do not sign a salary receipt for months you were not paid.
- Do not stop going to work or leave the country before you file a complaint. It can be used against you as absconding.
- Do not pay anyone who promises to “fix” your case for a fee.
For serious cases, such as many months without pay or a passport held by the employer, contact your embassy in Kuwait as well.
Before You Take A Gulf Job
Many salary problems start with a job that was never checked. Before you accept an offer or pay anything, check it with our free Fake Job Checker, and look for verified openings on GluJob.
Sources: Kuwait Times (22 Oct 2026), Gulf News (25 Oct 2026), Gulf News on PAM’s Sahel “Report to Us” service (Jul 2026), Arab Times guide on delayed salaries.