How long is probation in Kuwait?

Up to 100 working days. Either side can end the contract during it without notice (Art. 32).

Do I get indemnity if my employer ends my job in probation?

Yes. If your employer ends the contract in probation, it pays your indemnity (Art. 32).

Does a fixed-term contract change my indemnity?

Yes. When it runs out and is not renewed, you get all of it (Art. 52). The resignation shares are for open-ended contracts (Art. 53).

Starting a job in Kuwait: what to check before you sign

Check first whether your contract is fixed-term or open-ended. It changes your notice and what you get if you leave early.
Probation is at most 100 working days (Art. 32).
Your indemnity builds up at 15 days' pay a year for the first 5 years, then a month a year (Art. 51).

Get your datesFor when this job ends: every deadline as a date.

Checked 21 October 2026

On this page

Fixed-term or open-ended

Kuwait's Labour Law treats the two contract types differently.

Open-ended: either side ends it with written notice. If you resign, you get a share of your indemnity that grows with service (Art. 53).
Fixed-term: when it runs out and is not renewed, you get the full indemnity (Art. 52).
Fixed-term ended early without a right to do so: the other side can claim for the harm (Art. 47). The cap is the wage for the rest of the term.

If you resign from an open-ended contract, you get nothing under 3 years and half from 3 to 5 years. From 5 to 10 years you get two thirds, and from 10 all of it. Read more on fixed-term and open-ended contracts.

Probation

Probation can last up to 100 working days (Art. 32). Either side can end the contract during it without notice.

If your employer ends it in probation, it still pays your indemnity.

The notice you will owe later

On an open-ended contract, notice is in writing. It is at least 3 months if you are paid monthly, and at least 1 month otherwise (Art. 44).

Whoever skips the notice pays the other side the wage for that period.

What you build up: indemnity

15 days' pay for each of your first 5 years (Art. 51).
A month's pay for each year after that.
Up to 18 months' pay in total, if you are paid monthly.
Part years count in proportion.

The law counts regular allowances and commissions as wage (Art. 55). So check how your offer splits basic pay and allowances.

Example: a wage of KWD 600 a month, with the full indemnity. Our figures take a day's pay as the monthly wage divided by 30.

See the numbers

Year	Adds	Total
1	KWD 300	KWD 300
2	KWD 300	KWD 600
3	KWD 300	KWD 900
4	KWD 300	KWD 1,200
5	KWD 300	KWD 1,500
6	KWD 600	KWD 2,100
7	KWD 600	KWD 2,700

Your employer may deduct any debts or loans you owe it (Art. 51).

Unemployment insurance

Kuwait's unemployment insurance covers Kuwaitis working in the private and oil sectors (Law 101/2013, Art. 1). Expats are not covered.

Kuwaiti workers pay 0.5% of salary into it, and so does the employer (Art. 3).

Check your contract

Contract type: fixed-term, with its end date, or open-ended.
Probation: its length, up to 100 working days.
Notice: at least 3 months, in writing, if you are paid monthly on an open-ended contract.
Your basic pay and each regular allowance, listed separately.

Questions

How long is probation in Kuwait?: Up to 100 working days. Either side can end the contract during it without notice (Art. 32).
Do I get indemnity if my employer ends my job in probation?: Yes. If your employer ends the contract in probation, it pays your indemnity (Art. 32).
Does a fixed-term contract change my indemnity?: Yes. When it runs out and is not renewed, you get all of it (Art. 52). The resignation shares are for open-ended contracts (Art. 53).