The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has renewed its warning to employers in Kuwait against hiring women for jobs the law prohibits. PAM says anyone, citizen or resident, can report suspected violations through the “Report Me” service on the Sahel app, and the identity of the person reporting stays confidential.
PAM’s reminder is simple: employers must follow the rules on which jobs women can hold and which ones they can’t, as the public can also help flag those who don’t.
The “Report Me” option on Sahel isn’t a new service. In fact, it was launched earlier this year, timed with the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, according to a PAM media official. The reminder targets private-sector employers, and PAM has said inspections continue.
How to Report a Violation
According to PAM’s database department head, the steps to make such reports on Sahel are:
Step 1. Open Sahel Individuals and go to PAM services.
Step 2. Select “Report Me.”
Step 3. Choose the type of violation, describe what happened, and submit.
Note: You can attach photos as evidence and follow your report online. PAM says that everything you submit via this portal is strictly confidential, and your personal details as the whistleblower are not disclosed to anyone.
Report or Complaint? Know the Difference
PAM has also asked people not to mix up the two channels:
- Labor complaint: your own dispute, such as unpaid salary, contract problems, termination, or leave. File it through the Labour Relations Unit handling your company’s file or through PAM’s Ashal Manpower service.
- Violation report: something you’ve seen that breaks labor rules under PAM’s supervision. This is what “Report Me” is for.
Which Jobs are Covered?
The clearest rule on record is a PAM directive which bars businesses from issuing work permits to women for facilities set aside for men, such as coffee shops, gyms, and salons. The reverse also applies: men cannot be hired for facilities designated for women, including beauty salons and women’s gyms, or to work in shops selling women’s clothing. PAM’s recent reminder also covers risky or hazardous work.
Many people here work in shops, salons, cafes, and gyms. If your job sits in one of these places, it’s worth knowing the rules apply to your employer’s permits as much as to you.
PAM Director General Rabab Al-Osaimi has said the service also covers unauthorized employment, child labor, occupational safety breaches, and violations of the summer midday work ban, which prohibits outdoor work from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. PAM has also set up a WhatsApp number, 24936192, to report violations related to midday-ban. Employers who break that ban can have their files suspended under Law No. 6 of 2010.
By the Numbers
PAM Director General Al-Osaimi said PAM has made 92,462 inspection visits this year. These inspections have led to about 20,219 violations, mostly involving private-sector establishments. The authority has also reportedly received 25 related reports, covering labor violations in general, not women’s employment specifically. PAM, in turn, assured the public that these initiatives will continue. They will keep inspecting and taking action against violators.