Kuwait exempts stranded government employees from work duties, counting absence as working time amid regional travel disruptions/Representative Image
Kuwait has announced special relief for government employees who are currently stranded outside the country due to regional airspace closures and travel disruptions. The authorities confirmed that affected public sector workers will be exempt from work duties during their absence, and the time spent abroad will be counted as official working time until they are able to return.The decision was announced on Sunday by Kuwait’s Civil Service Commission (CSC), which said the measure was introduced to address the situation of employees unable to travel back to Kuwait because of exceptional regional circumstances. In a statement shared on social media platform X, the commission said the step aims to support government staff who were abroad and expected to return but are now facing delays due to ongoing disruptions across parts of the region.
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According to the commission, the period during which employees remain stranded outside Kuwait will be treated as actual working time. This arrangement will remain in place until they are able to return to the country, either after the reopening of airspace or through other available travel options.The Civil Service Commission said it has coordinated with government ministries, public authorities and other state institutions to address the situation and ensure that affected employees are covered under the decision.
The move ensures that public sector staff do not face administrative consequences for circumstances beyond their control while travel routes remain disrupted.The commission also clarified how the exemption will be applied. The duration of the exemption will be determined once the employee’s authorised leave or holiday period, during which they were originally expected to return to Kuwait, officially ends.
The employee’s direct supervisor or a higher-level manager will review the situation before the case is referred to the relevant administrative department for further processing.Employees who want the period of absence to be recognised as official working time must submit documentation confirming that they were outside Kuwait during the travel disruption. This proof will allow the relevant authorities to verify the circumstances and ensure that the exemption is properly recorded in the government’s automated administrative systems according to established procedures.The measure comes as travel across parts of the region has been affected by airspace closures and wider security developments, leaving some travellers temporarily unable to return to their home countries. Kuwait’s Civil Service Commission said the decision is intended to ensure that government employees affected by these disruptions are supported until normal travel routes resume and they are able to return to the country.
