Leave balances at stake: Kuwait’s new regulations for employees revealed

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KUWAIT CITY, Dec 12: According to statements provided to Al-Anbaa by informed sources, employees with less than 15 years of service are granted an annual leave entitlement of 35 days but are allowed to retain only up to 175 days. Any surplus will be forfeited at the onset of the new calendar year in 2024. On the other hand, employees with 15 years of service or more are entitled to 45 days per year, with a maximum balance of 225 days. Any excess beyond this limit will also be forfeited at the beginning of the new calendar year in 2024.

It was emphasized that the exceptional decision to freeze leave for the years 2020/2021, enabling employees to benefit from a balance of up to 6 years in addition to the current year, was made due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, this provision remains in effect, indicating that the pandemic does not currently impact vacation policies.

In an additional development, the Civil Service Commission has introduced a new service through the Sahel application, facilitating the initial approval process for scholarships and study leaves. This feature allows nominated Kuwaiti employees to issue a “To Whom It May Concern” certificate of initial approval, with the added convenience of paying certificate fees through the Sahel application. This certificate can then be presented to the relevant authorities at the countries’ embassies.

“The Diwan” highlighted the launch of this service, underscoring its significance in streamlining the application process for scholarships and study leaves. Furthermore, the report clarified that employees with less than 15 years of service, maintaining a leave balance exceeding 175 days, will face deductions, while those with over 15 years of service and balances exceeding 225 days will experience similar deductions. The decision to add the balance for the years 2020 and 2021 was reiterated as an exceptional measure, attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vacation regulations.

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