By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Beginning July 2025, all private sector expatriate workers in Kuwait must obtain an exit permit from their employer via the SAHEL app or the Public Authority for Manpower website before departing the country, regardless of trip duration. This new regulation, aimed at protecting both employer and employee rights, requires electronic submission of personal details and travel information. The system verifies employment status, flagging inconsistencies for further review. This measure aims to enhance legal compliance and prevent unauthorized departures.
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The new rule requiring expatriate workers in Kuwait’s private sector to obtain exit permits from their employers before leaving the country is sparking significant debate. This regulation, slated to take effect early next month, ostensibly aims to strengthen oversight of expatriate mobility and safeguard the rights of both workers and employers.
However, many view this as a significant restriction on personal freedom. The assertion that it protects worker rights is seen by some as Orwellian, given the potential for abuse and exploitation. The concern is that this measure, while presented as a safeguard, could in reality become a tool to control the movement of expatriate workers, particularly those from less powerful nations.
The comparison to existing practices in other countries, like Saudi Arabia, highlights the contentious nature of such laws. The universal declaration of human rights clearly states the right to leave any country, but this new Kuwaiti rule appears to directly contradict that fundamental right for a sizable segment of its population.
Concerns are being raised about the potential for increased forced labor. The argument is that such regulations create an environment where workers, often lured with misleading promises, find themselves trapped, unable to leave even if they experience exploitation or abuse. This ties into broader criticisms of the treatment of migrant workers in the Gulf states, with accusations of widespread human rights violations and a system that effectively enables modern slavery.
The perceived targeting of migrant workers from the global south is another point of contention. These workers often lack the diplomatic or economic leverage to challenge such regulations, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. While countries like the Philippines and Bangladesh have raised concerns about the treatment of their citizens in the Gulf, the lack of meaningful consequences allows such practices to continue.
The argument that Kuwait has the right to set its own laws is countered by the belief that international human rights standards should take precedence. While nations can create their own laws, those laws should not violate fundamental human rights, particularly the right to leave a country. The potential for the abuse of this exit permit system, leading to the unjust detention of foreign nationals, remains a significant concern.
The comparison to other authoritarian regimes where the arbitrary detention of citizens is commonplace is being made. This draws attention to the potential for this regulation to become another tool of oppression, particularly for vulnerable populations. The absence of effective external mechanisms to hold Kuwait accountable for such practices is also a point of contention.
Furthermore, the suggestion that this might disproportionately affect low-wage migrant workers, many of whom already face exploitation and challenging working conditions, adds to the growing concern. The fear is that the new law will exacerbate this issue, further entrenching a system that allows for the continued abuse of migrant labor.
Many believe that the “safeguarding of worker’s rights” claim is a mere smokescreen. The reality, they argue, is that the new rule serves to maintain a vulnerable workforce, effectively trapping people in situations of potential exploitation.
Although there are perspectives defending Kuwait’s right to regulate the movement of expatriates, the overwhelming sentiment expressed points to the significant human rights implications of this new policy. The debate extends beyond the specifics of the exit permit regulation, touching upon larger questions of labor rights, migrant worker protection, and the enforcement of international human rights standards in a globalized world. The long-term consequences of this new law remain to be seen, but the immediate reaction reveals a significant concern over its potential impact on the lives and liberties of expatriate workers in Kuwait.