Latest news with #KD150
Arab Times
09-07-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait Boots Out 6,300 Expats In 60 Days
KUWAIT CITY, July 9: The Deportation and Detention Department at the Correctional Institutions Sector in the Interior Ministry has completed the deportation procedures for around 6,300 expatriates in May and June 2025. This is part of the ongoing efforts of the department to expedite the deportation of expatriate violators to their home countries. Sources affirmed that the department continues to work hard to deport expatriates referred by various sectors in the ministry for violating the Residency and Labor laws, some of whom are subject to judicial rulings. Sources said the department remains committed to speeding up the completion of deportation procedures, while providing humanitarian support and meeting all other needs of violators during their temporary detention until the procedures are completed. Sources added the field sectors in the ministry refer violators of the Residency and Labor laws, who are arrested in the ongoing security campaigns throughout the country, including illegal workers. In other news, since the implementation of the new traffic law on April 22 -- about three months ago-- areas once frequented by reckless drivers, such as Kabad, Wafra, Abdally and Subiya roads, are now empty of such drivers. These areas, which used to be venues for nighttime gatherings for car races promoted on social media, are now largely deserted, marking a new era of road safety. The law introduced sweeping changes, including increased fines, tougher penalties, and stricter enforcement. These measures have led to a visible shift in driving behavior, particularly among reckless drivers. Previously, some of the abovementioned areas hosted illegal, high-risk races that resulted in fatal accidents (both among drivers and spectators), often under the cover of darkness and away from law enforcement. Under the new regulations, penalties for reckless or negligent driving and racing have significantly increased. Offenders now face fines of up to KD150 for minor violations upon settlement; and in severe cases, imprisonment of one to three years and fines ranging from KD 600 to 1,000 or any of these two penalties. Individuals who film themselves committing traffic offenses like reckless or negligent driving now face fines ranging from KD1,000 to KD2,000. The Ministry of Interior reported a substantial drop in traffic violations and accidents since the law took effect. According to the General Traffic Department, traffic camera data showed 28,464 violations recorded in May 2025; compared to 168,208 in May 2024 -- 83 percent decrease. These violations included speeding and running a red light. Violations related to not wearing seatbelts or using mobile phones while driving dropped by 75 percent -- 22,574 violations recorded in the first month of implementing the new law compared to 89,153 in the previous month. The most important development is that traffic-related deaths fell by 55 percent; with only 10 fatalities reported in May 2025, compared to 22 in the same month of the previous year.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kuwait to require exit permits for foreign workers before leaving the country
Kuwait is to require foreigners working in the private sector to obtain their employer's permission before leaving the country, authorities said on Wednesday, adding further restrictions on workers bound by the kafala sponsorship system. Human rights groups have long criticised the kafala system, which is widely prevalent in the oil-rich Gulf states and ties migrant workers' visas to their employers, often preventing them from changing jobs or sometimes leaving the country. First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef issued a ministerial circular "requiring expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain an 'exit permit' from their registered employer before leaving the country," the Public Authority of Manpower said in a statement on its X account. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Proljetni bestseler: Udobne cipele za hodanje ducencenn Kup teraz Undo The procedure, which can be done online, aims to "strengthen oversight of the movement of expatriate workers and ensure a balance between the workers' and employers' rights", the statement added. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The new requirement will take effect from July 1 Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU Kuwait ends fee exemptions on work visa transfers; imposes standard KD150 charge Kuwait visit visa: Step-by-step guide for parents and relatives Saudi Arabia has similar restrictions on expatriate workers, who are required to obtain exit and re-entry permits from their sponsor to leave and re-enter the country. Starting in 2017, Qatar made a series of reforms to its employment regulations after being selected to host the 2022 World Cup. In 2018, Doha began allowing most foreigner workers to leave the country without their employer's authorisation, extending the new procedure to domestic staff two years later. In the United Arab Emirates, employers do not have the right to confiscate employees' passports or prevent them from leaving the country.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
No more visa fee waivers: Kuwait imposes standard KD150 charge across all sectors
Photo: Pexels In a significant overhaul of its labour market framework, Kuwait has officially ended fee exemptions for work visa transfers, introducing a standard KD150 charge for each work permit issued across a wide range of sectors. The policy change was enacted under Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025, announced on Thursday, June 6, by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Youssef. The move marks a major shift in Kuwait's approach to labour regulation, aimed at tightening oversight and eliminating preferential treatment for specific industries. Key repeals and new requirements At the core of the change is the repeal of Article 2 of the 2024 resolution, which had previously allowed exemptions from work permit fees for certain sectors, depending on manpower requirements approved by the Public Authority for Manpower. With the exemption lifted, all work permits issued under previously exempted categories will now incur the KD150 fee, assessed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, Article 5 of the 2024 resolution has been abolished, removing the requirement for the Public Authority for Manpower's Board of Directors to conduct a one-year impact assessment before implementing the fee structure. This eliminates the need for any further formal review or recommendation process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo These adjustments also modify earlier provisions under Ministerial Resolution No. 3 of 2024, further streamlining the issuance and transfer of work permits and standardising related fees. Sectors now affected by the KD150 fee The newly standardised fee applies to a broad spectrum of public and private sector organisations, including: Government-owned companies Hospitals, clinics, and medical centres licensed by the Ministry of Health Private universities, colleges, and schools Foreign investors accredited by the Investment Promotion Authority Sports clubs and federations Public benefit associations, charities, endowments, labour unions, and cooperative societies Licensed agricultural operations, including hunting, livestock pens, sheep and camel grazing Commercial and investment properties Industrial facilities and small-scale industries Previously, these sectors were exempted from paying additional fees, contingent on staffing needs evaluated by the Public Authority for Manpower. A broader push for labour market standardisation The new fee structure is part of Kuwait's wider effort to unify labour regulations and eliminate inconsistencies across sectors. The KD150 fee will now apply uniformly to each work permit issued or transferred, regardless of sector or employer classification. By scrapping exemptions once granted to entities like hospitals, schools, agricultural operations, and charitable organisations, the government aims to close regulatory loopholes and ensure equal treatment in how foreign labour is managed. The repeal of Article 5, previously mandating a one-year impact study, also signals a move toward faster implementation of reforms without further delay or discretionary reviews, reinforcing a shift to more centralised and uniform oversight.
Gulf Insider
07-06-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait Ends Fee Exemptions For Work Visa Transfers
Kuwait has revoked longstanding fee exemptions on work visa transfers, introducing a new, standardised KD150 charge for each permit issued in a major move to tighten labour market oversight. Under a ministerial resolution announced Thursday by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Youssef, the government repealed Article 2 of last year's regulations, which had allowed certain sectors to avoid additional permit fees based on manpower requirements. The changes, issued under Ministerial Resolution No. 4 of 2025, represent a significant shift in the country's approach to work permit management. The new rules apply to various sectors and organisations, including government-owned companies; hospitals, clinics, and health centres licensed by the Ministry of Health; private universities and schools; foreign investors accredited by the Investment Promotion Authority; sports clubs and federations; and public benefit associations, labor unions, charities, and endowments. They also cover licensed agricultural operations, industrial facilities, commercial and investment properties, and small-scale industries. With the repeal of the previous exemption, all work permits in these categories will now incur an additional KD150 fee, assessed individually for each permit granted. The move eliminates preferential treatment for specific sectors and is part of a wider strategy to standardise fees and processes for foreign labour. The resolution also abolishes a requirement for the Public Authority for Manpower's Board of Directors to conduct a one-year impact study of the 2024 decision, ending the need for formal review and recommendation prior to full implementation.
Arab Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Lawsuits in Kuwait get a fee-lift
KUWAIT CITY, June 5: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah presided over the weekly meeting of the Cabinet, during which a decree-law amending certain provisions of Judicial Fees Law No. 17/1973 was approved. This amendment is the first in more than five decades. It aims to limit the growing number of vexatious cases, ensure the seriousness of the right to litigation, and promote alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration and conciliation. The amendment includes the increase of fees and rates imposed on lawsuits with a specified or unspecified claim value. It stipulates a five percent rate if the claim value is up to KD30,000; 3.5 percent if the claim value exceeds KD30,000 up to KD150,000; 2.5 percent if the value ranges between KD150,000 and KD500,000; 1.5 percent if the claim value ranges between KD500,000 and KD5million; and one percent if the claim value exceeds KD5 million. It raised the fees for orders on petitions and requests from KD5 to KD10; KD50 for urgent lawsuits and enforcement issues — up from KD3; court lawsuit fees increased to KD100, including the request to appoint an expert; KD150 for enforcement issues — up from KD30; KD100 for requests to dismiss a judge, expert and arbitrator; KD500 for a request to refer a property to a sales judge; the fee for warnings for each party increased from 500 fils to KD5; cost of stamp duty increased from 500 fils to KD1; and requests to expedite lawsuits, suspension and cancellation are subject to a fee of KD5. Article One of the Decree-Law stipulates the replacement of a number of articles of the Judicial Fees Law with new texts. Article Two states that if the lawsuit includes multiple claims of known value — whether original or reserve, and arising from a single legal cause; the assessment shall be based on their total value. However, if they arise from different legal causes, the assessment shall be based on the value of each one separately. Article Five states that if it is impossible to estimate a claim, it shall be deemed unvalued. The following claims, in particular, shall be deemed unvalued: claims for the authenticity of a signature, claims and objections submitted to the judge of urgent matters, original forgery claims, requests for enforcement of arbitrators' rulings and appeals against such orders, requests for orders to implement foreign court rulings, requests to dismiss judges, experts and arbitrators, requests and orders on petitions submitted to the Execution Department and appeals against them, claims for easements, claims for interpretation and correction of rulings, claims for review of endowments, claims for entitlement to residency in endowment sites or their eviction, and claims for eviction of rented premises. It also stipulates that if a claim includes multiple original claims or original and reserve claims — all of which are unvalued — a fee shall be imposed on each of them separately. If these claims are related, a single fee shall be imposed on them. Under the decree, a fixed fee is imposed on the following lawsuits: personal status lawsuits of all types, partition lawsuits between partners, appeals against orders on petitions, and the list of fees and expenses. Fees are also collected for each lawsuit that has been in effect for one year from the date of its cancellation and has not been renewed from the date of cancellation, or from the date of the expiration of the penal or consensual stay and has not been resumed. A fee of KD5 is imposed for a request to renew a lawsuit from cancellation, shorten its hearing date, or expedite it from the penal or consensual stay. The applicant is obligated to pay this fee regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit. A new fee of 10 percent of the value of the fee due is collected for the lawsuit when it is re-filed within three months from the date of the judgment, as if it never existed, or by abandoning it; provided that the subject of the lawsuit or its litigants do not change. The exemption request shall be submitted to the Clerks Department of the Court of First Instance, accompanied by the supporting documents or a copy thereof. The Clerks Department shall notify the Judicial Fees Department of the request and its documents, so that it may submit its report. A committee of three judges shall be formed to decide on the request in the absence of the parties and without pleading unless the committee deems it necessary to attend. The committee shall have a secretary who will attend its sessions and record its minutes. The committee's decision shall be issued by a majority vote of its members, including the reasons for the decision and the basis upon which the exemption was based. The exemption from fees shall be personal and shall not extend to the heirs of the exempted person or their replacement. The committee referred to in the previous article may, during the course of the case or after judgment therein, based on a request from the Judicial Fees Department or the opposing party in the case, annul the exemption decision if it is proven that the justified incapacity has ceased. The Court Clerks Department shall notify the circuit hearing the case of the annulment decision. If the fee-exempt opponent is required to pay the fees, he must first be requested to pay them. If it is impossible to collect the fees from him, it is permissible to recover them from the concerned party if the state of his inability is no longer in accordance with the previous article. A fee of KD5 is imposed on warnings and notifications — other than notification of the statement of claim, judgment and other notifications related to the progress of a dispute before the court — for each person notified. A fee of 500 fils is collected for each page of the copy of the judgment requested from non-litigants. The same fee is imposed for each page requested by the litigants after they obtained the first copy. A fee of KD1 is imposed on certificates and copies of the lawsuit papers requested by the litigants or others regarding the progress of the lawsuit or the judgment therein. It also stipulates that the courts shall adjudicate in lawsuits and requests for which the fee is paid in advance, or for which a temporary exemption is established. No lawsuit or request may be initiated before this fee is paid. If it is found that it has not been paid, the court shall grant the plaintiff an appropriate period for payment. If he does not pay within that period without an acceptable excuse, the lawsuit is deemed null and void. The provisions of Article 123 of the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law shall apply to orders to assess fees and the appeals against them. Without prejudice to the rules of exemption from court fees, the plaintiff is obligated to pay the fee until a final judgment is issued against the other party. The explanatory memorandum states that Law No. 17/1973 regarding judicial fees was issued more than 50 years ago; and it has not been amended despite the economic and social changes in recent years, including the rise in inflation rate and the level of per capita income, which led to an increase in the prices of goods and services. It added that the increasing level of public culture and trust in the judiciary have encouraged citizens to resort to the courts as a safe haven for resolving their disputes. This has led to a steady increase in the number of cases brought before them; hence, litigants have to endure the pain of waiting for resolution.
