Policy Brief

Employer survey of internal labour market mobility: promoting a more flexible workforce in Kuwait

Compared with its neighbours, the sponsorship system in Kuwait is one of the most rigid in the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) region. This policy brief on internal labour market mobility is based on an exploratory survey of 198 companies that responded to the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)-ILO survey between December 2022 to March 2023, and a meeting organized by KCCI, ILO and the International Organization for Employers (IOE) on 7 March 2023. The results demonstrate an interest among the private sector for simpler and less onerous rules on migrant workers being able to change employers in Kuwait, such as the mobility reforms introduced in neighbouring GCC countries. The policy brief makes a number of recommendations regarding policy reforms that could ensure a more dynamic labour market in Kuwait, and stronger compliance with international labour standards.