Kuwait is one of the world’s most important oil-producing states (10 percent of world oil reserves) with an elected Parliament. Its economy is driven by the petroleum industry which accounts for approximately 63 percent of the country’s budget revenue. Kuwaiti citizens form about 38 percent of the population, 93 percent of whom are employed by the State. The share of the Kuwaiti nationals in the total work force in 1999 rose to 19.5 percent, the highest since 1992, with female workers accounting for 35.3 percent. However, under-utilization of the Kuwaiti workforce and excess foreign workers are still a growing concern. In this connection, a highest priority is given to "Kuwaitization" of the labour force.

The Government of Kuwait encourages joint ventures between foreign and Kuwaiti enterprises. The country is moving toward a more liberal economic system to attract foreign investment. The National Assembly approved, in May 2000, a legislation opening the Kuwait Stock Exchange to foreigners. This law is the second vital law regarding foreign investments after it issued the indirect investment law. The two laws, one on privatization and the other on taxation, are expected to be discussed during the current year, indicating the keen interest of the Government in the open economy.

Executive power is exercised by the Emir, through a Council of Ministers (last appointed in July 1998), headed by a prime minister who is assigned by the Emir.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL) has a critical role in the promotion of employment of national workforce and human resource development in line with the national development policy. At the request of the Ministry, ILO is currently carrying out the study on recruitment system for migrant workers. The Ministry and the ILO office in Kuwait are maintaining close relations. The Minister is H.E. Mr. Talal Mubarak Al Ayyar.

Employers are represented by the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). While ILO has been assisting KCCI in its capacity building through technical advisory services and training, ILO and KCCI have been jointly providing fellowships, to employers’ organizations in the Arab region, for training at KCCI.

Workers are represented by the Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF). Recently, ILO provided technical and financial contributions to the sub-regional workshop, "Women & Trade Union" (Kuwait, May 2000) and to a national seminar, "Globalization and its Socio-Economic Impact on Workers" (Kuwait, February 2001), both organized by KTUF.

ILO provided technical advisory services on the Declaration, its follow-up and reporting preparation (March 2001) and another technical advisory mission, on the application of Convention No. 87 - the Freedom of Association, is scheduled to be carried out in October 2001.

Kuwait is benefiting from a study on comparative analysis of national legislations and practice in light of ILO Fundamental Conventions currently being undertaken in GCC States.

Kuwait participated in the Turin Centre training courses: "Promoting the ILO Declaration" (April 2000); "International Labour Standards" (May 2000); and "Training of Trainers on International Labour Standards and the Declaration reporting, (April 2001).

ILO provided technical contribution on competency-based training at sub-regional meeting, "A Unified System for National Occupational Qualifications in the GCC States", which was organized by the Public Authority for Applied Education & Training (Kuwait, April 2000) and organized, in Kuwait jointly with the Islamic Development Bank a sub-regional workshop entitled "Practical Mechanisms to Link Training and Employment Policies in Arab States" (February 2001);

ILO has launched, early 2001, a pioneering study and comprehensive survey on the recruitment system for migrant workers in Kuwait with a view to seeking viable alternative systems in response to concerns on surplus foreign workers.

Kuwait benefited from ILO’s activities at the sub-regional level, including: "Sub-regional Workshop on Alternative Approaches to Finance Skill Development Programmes in the Arab States" (Jordan, May 2001); and the assistance for establishing a unified labour market information system in GCC, which has been carried out by ILO and the Executive Bureau of the Council of the Ministers of Labour in GCC (2000-2001).

Kuwait participated in the Turin training course on "Management of Technical Cooperation" (February 2000).

ILO is executing a trust fund project " Seventh Actuarial Valuation of the Schemes Administered by the Public Institution for Social Security";

Kuwait participated in Turin Centre training courses: "Pension Schemes Financing and Social Security", (Turin, November 2000); and "Comparative Analysis of International and National Standards on Occupational Safety and Health" (Beirut, April 2001).

Kuwait participated in ILO/ALO inter-regional seminar on Social Dialogue (Beirut, October 2000);

ILO provided technical and financial contributions to the sub-regional workshop, "Women & Trade Union" (Kuwait, May 2000) and to a national seminar, "Globalization and its Socio-Economic Impact on Workers" (Kuwait, February 2001), both organized by Kuwait Trade Union Federation.

Kuwait ratified a total of 18 ILO Conventions including the following six core Conventions:

• Convention No. 29: Forced Labour, 1930
• Convention No. 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, 1948
• Convention No. 105: Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957
• Convention No. 111: Discrimination ( Employment and Occupation ), 1958
• Convention No. 138: Minimum Age, 1973
• Convention No. 182: Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999

It is noteworthy that the above Convention No. 182 and Convention No. 144: Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards), 1976, were ratified in 2000. (ratified on 15.08.2000)

 Updated by CHW. Approved by RD. Last update: 3 August 2001.