Kuwait Announces 100% Attendance and Return to Regular Working Hours in Government Sector

29/04/2026

KUWAIT CITY, April 29: Kuwait will return to full staffing levels across all government entities and reinstate regular official working hours starting Sunday, May 3, 2026, following a Cabinet directive issued earlier this week.

In an external circular (No. 8 of 2026), the Civil Service Commission (CSC)confirmed that all ministries and government bodies must raise employee attendance to 100% and resume normal operations, including the reintroduction of evening work shifts.

Under the directive, government employees will return to the standard morning shift system of seven working hours per day, marking the end of reduced schedules that had been in place due to recent regional circumstances.

The CSC also instructed all entities to fully comply with Civil Service Council Resolution No. 41 of 2006, which governs official working hours, attendance regulations, and administrative controls, along with its subsequent amendments.

In addition, the circular clarified that previous temporary measures issued under Circulars No. 4 and No. 7 of 2026—related to workforce limits and adjusted working hours following the holy month of Ramadan—will be suspended where they conflict with the latest Cabinet decision.

Authorities emphasized that all government entities are required to strictly implement the new instructions and ensure a smooth transition back to full operational capacity from the specified date.

The move reflects a broader shift toward normalizing public sector operations, with officials signaling readiness to maintain full service delivery across government institutions.