Kuwait to Require Employer Okay for Foreign Staff to Leave

Foreign workers in Kuwait to require employer approval to leave the country

Kuwait has introduced a new rule requiring private sector foreign workers to obtain exit permits from their employers before leaving the country, further tightening controls under the kafala system. The move has drawn criticism from rights groups over migrant workers' freedoms.

Kuwait to require employer okay for foreign staff to leave

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait — Kuwait is to require foreigners working in the private sector to obtain their employer’s permission before leaving the country, adding further restrictions on workers bound by the kafala sponsorship system. Human rights groups have long criticized the kafala system, which is widely prevalent in the oil-rich Gulf states and ties migrant workers’ visas to their employers. This often prevents them from changing jobs or sometim…