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Kuwait retained its Tier 2 classification in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report for 2026, released on October 8, for the second consecutive year after demonstrating increased efforts to combat the crime. The Public Prosecution said in a statement that it had initiated criminal proceedings against 64 defendants for human trafficking under Law No. 91 of 2013, which also covered related offenses such as money laundering and the forgery of official and banking documents. Investigations into human trafficking rose from three cases to 11 during the period, with two convictions secured, including for forced labor and murder involving a domestic worker.
The Attorney General established a specialised unit within the reporting period to strengthen the response, tasking it with monitoring implementation of the national referral mechanism, unifying procedures for victim identification and protection, and enhancing investigative approaches. This unit is also responsible for creating a comprehensive database of trafficking crimes and offering technical guidance to prosecutors and law enforcement personnel, the Public Prosecution reported. Training was provided to Public Prosecution members on the correct legal classification of trafficking cases, while an online service for reporting such crimes was launched on the prosecution website.
Efforts by the National Standing Committee for Combating Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling and participating government bodies supported these developments, according to the statement carried by Times Kuwait. Kuwait had moved up from the Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 in the 2025 report following legislative reforms that included a decree-law tightening rules on residency permits and wage payments. The 2026 report noted continued progress in these areas while identifying scope for additional convictions and reforms.
According to the US State Department, the government identified and referred 99 foreign male victims of forced labor to care in 2025, an increase from 71 identified the previous year when none were referred for services. Authorities maintained a shelter for male migrant workers that delivers healthcare, legal assistance and other support, having opened the facility in the preceding period. The government raised its direct allocation for victim services to 218,000 Kuwaiti dinars from 191,000 dinars a year earlier.
These measures form part of a national plan to combat trafficking through 2028 that has guided institutional coordination across ministries and agencies. The Public Prosecution emphasised its priority on pursuing offenders and protecting victims in line with the law. Further details on the report’s findings remain available through the US State Department publication.
