Know Your Rights: A Guide for Exploited Delivery Drivers in Kuwait
Dear Arab Times Legal Team
I work as a home delivery driver under a third-party company contracted by a Famous Food Delivery Company. We are being assigned daily shifts of up to 14 hours without any breaks, even during the extreme summer heat. This is not just my case—it's the same for all car drivers. If any of us take a short break or request a day off, the subcontracting companies penalize us by deducting money from our salaries. As a result, we are not receiving our full wages despite working long hours. They have also implemented a 'batch system,' where even a 5-minute break results in a downgrade and further salary cuts. This feels like forced labor, and we are under constant pressure and fear of financial punishment. I have attached a screenshot as proof of our work assignments. We seek help to stop this exploitation.
Violations by Subcontracting Third-Party Employers
Working Hours Limit (Kuwait Labor Law - Article 64):
The maximum legal working hours are 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week.
Anything beyond this is overtime and must be paid extra with the employee's consent.
Mandatory Breaks (Article 66):
Employees must be given at least one hour of rest after 5 continuous hours of work.
A 14-hour continuous work shift without a break is strictly prohibited under Kuwaiti labor law.
Salary Deductions (Article 48 & Article 70):
Employers cannot deduct wages unless authorized by law or a court order.
Penalizing drivers by reducing wages for taking a short break (even 5 minutes) is illegal.
Any batch system used to penalize workers outside of legal guidelines is not permitted under labor law.
Paid Leave Rights (Article 70):
You are entitled to paid weekly rest and annual leave.
Punishing drivers for taking rest days is against the law.
What You Can Do:
File a Complaint at Shoun (Labor Relations Department):
Visit the nearest PAM (Public Authority of Manpower) labor office.
Bring a copy of your employment contract and proof of salary deductions or assigned working hours (screenshot, messages, shift plans).
Mention the name of the third-party company working under main Delivery Company
Call the Labor Helpline:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
10 hours ago
- Arab Times
Over 200 Syrians To Be Exposed In Kuwait Citizenship Forgery Scandal
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: Syrians who obtained Kuwaiti citizenship through forgery are on the verge of being uncovered. According to the sources, the files related to these forgeries were personally delivered by Kuwaiti officials to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef during his recent one-day official visit, which began in Beirut and continued to Damascus. In Damascus, Sheikh Fahad held a four-hour meeting with Syrian officials to discuss the matter, present the files, and reinforce cooperation between the two countries. Both sides agreed to examine and match the evidence from Kuwait with Syrian records in an effort to expose the forgers and bring clarity to these fraudulent cases. Exclusive sources confirmed that the upcoming session of Kuwait's Supreme Nationality Investigation Committee will review evidence in over 200 cases involving Syrians suspected of fraudulently acquiring Kuwaiti nationality. These individuals are expected to lose their citizenship once the investigations conclude. Addressing Syrians holding forged Kuwaiti citizenship, the sources stated that the Damascus discussions were 'successful and productive,' and those involved should consider themselves exposed. Citizenship withdrawal, they emphasized, is inevitable. The sources also urged any Syrian involved in such forgery to voluntarily come forward, confess, and request to regularize their status as a gesture of good faith. Doing so may lead to possible solutions and reduce the legal and financial consequences they could otherwise face. 'No one who has forged citizenship should believe they are safe,' the sources warned. 'We will not allow Kuwait's identity, resources, and rights to be exploited by those who do not deserve them.'
Arab Times
10 hours ago
- Arab Times
41% of Kuwaiti startups are now led by women, the highest in the Gulf
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: In an unprecedented development for the Gulf region, 41 percent of startups in Kuwait are now spearheaded by women. This figure -- among the highest in the Middle East -- is a manifestation of a sweeping transformation in the entrepreneurial landscape of Kuwait, driven by women who are redefining the boundaries of economic participation. Female entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in challenging long-standing societal stereotypes about women's roles in the economy. From e-commerce and financial technology to creative ventures that celebrate culture and identity, many women-led projects have shown profitability and significant social impact. Experts attribute this surge to several factors as follows: Growing institutional support from the Kuwaiti government, which made entrepreneurship a pillar of its economic diversification strategy; Widespread adoption of digital technology, enabling women to reach customers and collaborators locally and globally; Expanding access to advanced education in Kuwait and abroad, empowering women with the skills and confidence to launch and scale innovative businesses. Social media has also played an instrumental role; giving Kuwaiti women the tools to market their products, build communities, and bypass traditional barriers that once limited their opportunities. Among the standout examples is a startup founded by a young female Kuwaiti entrepreneur producing modern feminist cultural content, as well as another that develops smart e-commerce solutions targeting regional markets in the Gulf. Despite these achievements, certain challenges remain. Many women entrepreneurs report difficulties in securing funding on par with their male peers, citing persistent bias in investment circles and bureaucratic hurdles. Yet, the success and profitability of women-led ventures are beginning to prompt some investors to rethink their priorities and allocate more resources to female founders. The wave of women entrepreneurship aligns with the vision of Kuwait to diversify its economy, away from oil dependency by investing in innovation and the private sector. Programs such as the National Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises Development have been established to incubate emerging businesses and focus on empowering youth and women.
Arab Times
10 hours ago
- Arab Times
KNPC expands Mina Al-Ahmadi & Mina Abdullah refinery capacities
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) aims to increase the production capacity of Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries from 798,600 barrels per day to about 825,000 barrels per day this year. Sources told the newspaper that this step is crucial, considering that the refined products of both refineries contain materials that meet most international environmental requirements; hence, the global markets prefer KNPC products. Sources confirmed that KNPC has completed numerous maintenance operations on several units in the two refineries and is currently undertaking comprehensive maintenance to increase its production capacity. Sources said the company utilizes the most advanced smart digital technologies to continue production operations optimally, especially since these technologies have a high capacity to predict breakdowns. Sources stated that to increase the production capacity of Mina Al- Ahmadi Refinery, the company will focus on increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal unit; thereby, raising its production from 50,000 barrels per day to 55,000 barrels. Sources revealed this is in addition to increasing the operating capacity of the atmospheric distillation residual sulfur removal units at Mina Abdullah Refinery to reach 50,000 to 55,000 per unit. Sources disclosed that the target expansion plan includes increasing the operating capacity of the naphtha processing unit from 23,000 barrels to 25,8000 barrels per day at the Mina Abdullah Refinery. Sources also cited the ongoing efforts to increase the operating capacity of the gasoline production unit at Mina Abdullah Refinery from 18,000 to 20,000 barrels per day. Sources added that the production capacity of the petroleum coke production unit at Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery will be increased from 37,000 barrels to around 44,400 barrels per day. Sources affirmed as well that evaluations are underway for several other units at the two refineries in preparation for increasing their production capacity. Sources said KNPC is currently leading an ambitious plan to increase the production of clean refining materials through various means in order to protect the environment. 'Therefore, it is working diligently to reduce emissions through the use of alternative energy. It is expanding the use of alternative energy through solar panels at its fuel stations -- both the existing ones and those to be built in the coming years. The company intends to implement several projects in the coming years to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,' sources added. Moreover, sources attributed the decline in the profits of the company for fiscal 2024/2025 to several factors; particularly the geopolitical factors in the region, entry of new African refineries into service, and resumption of Russian refineries, some of which ceased operations some years ago due to the Russian- Ukrainian war. Sources also cited the official launching of the Kuwaiti-Omani Duqm Refinery in February 2024 as one of the factors, as most global markets relied on it, especially during the intensification of geopolitical crises, as well as the recession that accompanied product purchases
