Kuwait approves new working hours for private school employees

Kuwait has approved a new work-hour system for private school employees, introducing a seven-hour workday aimed at improving staff wellbeing and job satisfaction. The move, endorsed by First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah , seeks to modernize the private education sector, ensure operational continuity, and support high-quality teaching while complying fully with labor law requirements.
New work hour system

The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has formalized a seven-hour workday for employees in private schools across Kuwait. Key details of the framework include:

• Weekly Schedule: Five working days per week.
• Daily Hours: Seven hours per day, with flexibility for schools to reduce to six hours, as long as total weekly hours comply with labor law.
• Rest Period: Employees are entitled to a minimum one-hour daily rest period.

The framework is fully aligned with Article 65 of Labour Law No. 6 of 2010, which defines daily working hours. Paragraph (b) permits consecutive work hours without a break for sectors such as education where continuous presence is required.

Background and rationale

The decision follows a comprehensive study conducted by PAM’s specialized departments in cooperation with the Kuwaiti Federation of Private Schools ( Private Schools Union of Kuwait ). The study analyzed the nature of work in private educational institutions and highlighted:

• Differences in schedules between Arabic and foreign curriculum schools, including working days and weekly hours.
• The need for flexibility to accommodate various educational structures.
• The continuous presence required from teaching and administrative staff to maintain smooth operations throughout the school day.

The initiative reflects Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef’s directives to modernize the private school work environment while balancing the interests of school administrations, employees, and the broader educational system.

Benefits for employees and schools

PAM highlighted that the new system aims to:

• Enhance employee wellbeing and satisfaction.
• Improve efficiency and operational flexibility in schools.
• Support high-quality education by ensuring staff can perform effectively within a structured, fair work schedule.
• Align with broader government efforts to modernize labor practices and strengthen human capital across key economic sectors.

By implementing regulated and flexible working hours, private school staff are protected under labor law, while schools maintain stability and continuity in educational delivery.

Legal compliance and implementation

The new work-hour framework is based on Article 65 of the Labour Law, which sets the legal minimum and maximum daily working hours. PAM confirmed that:

• The system is compliant with existing labor regulations.
• It accommodates the unique operational needs of the education sector, where continuous staff presence is essential.
• Schools are required to ensure employees receive at least one-hour daily rest.

This approach ensures the initiative is both legally sound and practically effective, reflecting Kuwait’s commitment to modernizing employment standards in specialized sectors.

Broader implications

The approval of this work-hour system signals Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to modernize private sector labor practices, particularly in education. It underscores the government’s commitment to:

• Maintaining a balanced and healthy work environment.
• Protecting employee rights in specialized sectors.
• Ensuring stability and high standards in the educational system.

According to PAM, this initiative is a key step toward enhancing private sector standards and creating a workforce structure that supports both employee welfare and operational efficiency in schools.