A policy brief released by the International Labour Organization in March 2024 analyses the results of a survey of 198 companies in Kuwait focusing on the challenges of internal worker recruitment in the country.

The report finds over half of respondents said they wanted rules that make it easier for migrant workers to change employers, therefore facilitating transfers between companies. The report notes this finding was consistent across “almost all sectors” and among companies of all sizes, but was particularly strong in food and beverage, retail and trade, and financial sectors.

Other key findings in the report include almost 75% of respondents approved of migration reforms in other GCC countries that enable visa transfers without the need for a no objection certificate for workers. Further, discussions between the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ILO, and the International Organization for Employers in March included discussions of other measures that can facilitate labour mobility, including the use of online platforms where migrant workers can post their CVs, and the ability to employ workers on “short-term visas”.

The report highlights how reforms facilitating job transfers have many advantages, including enhancing productivity, reducing labour disputes, and protecting the rights of migrant workers by reducing their vulnerability to exploitation.