KUWAIT CITY — A Labor Court ruling has mandated a private company to revoke the residency permit of an employee and permit his transfer to a new employer without requiring the original sponsor’s consent, following a six-month lapse in salary payments. The decision was issued on May 17 after the company failed to pay the employee’s wages for half a year.

The employee, who has worked with the company for four years, filed a complaint detailing the nonpayment, which led to severe financial hardship. According to the case, the extended delay forced the worker to borrow money and depend on assistance from colleagues to meet basic living expenses.

In addition to authorizing the employment transfer, the court ordered the company to settle all outstanding salary payments and provide compensation for overtime work. The ruling aligns with Kuwaiti labor regulations intended to protect workers from employer malpractice in wage disbursement and residency sponsorship.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about labor rights enforcement within the private sector in Kuwait, particularly regarding delayed wage payments and employee protections tied to residency sponsorship. The court’s decision allows employees to seek alternative employment more freely when their rights are violated, marking a significant development in worker mobility under local labor law.