Domestic workers entitled to end-of-service benefits upon contract completion: Expert

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KUWAIT: Completing an employment contract is a key condition for domestic workers to receive end-of-service benefits, but leaving early does not automatically cancel all…

KUWAIT: Completing an employment contract is a key condition for domestic workers to receive end-of-service benefits, but leaving early does not automatically cancel all outstanding financial rights, legal expert Mubarak Al-Omayyan said. Al-Omayyan said many employers and domestic workers remain unfamiliar with their rights and responsibilities under Kuwait’s domestic workers law, leading to disputes over salaries, contract termination and financial settlements. “Domestic workers’ rights are not merely a humanitarian concern; they are legal obligations that must be respected,” he said.

According to Al-Omayyan, Article 23 of Law No 68 of 2015 entitles domestic workers who complete their contracts to an end-of-service benefit equivalent to one month’s salary for each year of service. A worker earning KD 120 a month, for example, would receive KD 240 after completing a two-year contract, or KD 480 after four years at the same salary. However, when a worker leaves before completing the agreed contractual period, entitlement depends on the circumstances surrounding the termination.

Al-Omayyan said the law links end-of-service benefits to contract completion, meaning a worker who leaves early is not automatically entitled to the same payment as someone who fulfills the contract. Nevertheless, the reasons for termination, the party responsible and any breaches of contractual obligations must be examined. An employer who terminates a contract without legal justification may face a compensation claim, while a worker who leaves prematurely without justification may also face contractual consequences, he said.

Outstanding wages and other established financial entitlements must still be settled, regardless of how the employment relationship ends. “End-of-service benefits are neither a gift nor a voluntary payment from the employer. They are a financial right established by law for domestic workers when the conditions for entitlement are met,” he said.

If the worker travelled…

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