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The Public Authority of Manpower introduced an electronic platform on September 10 to streamline the reporting of labor law violations, with a specific focus on cases involving the illegal employment of children or minors. According to Arab Times, the “Report Me” service forms part of a wider strategy to enhance the authority’s inspection capabilities and improve monitoring across the labor market. PAM stated that the initiative will make it easier for members of the public to contribute to enforcement actions while protecting workers from exploitative practices.
Among the infractions targeted by the new tool is the employment of children in ways that breach legal age restrictions and conditions set for juvenile workers. Kuwaiti labor law prohibits the employment of any child under 15 years of age, while those aged 15 to 18 require prior approval from the relevant ministry and must avoid hazardous tasks, according to provisions in Law No. 6 of 2010 and a 2021 decree. The authority’s announcement highlighted how the platform will channel public tips into faster investigations of such violations.
Users can submit reports through the Easy app, which PAM described as a convenient digital channel designed to lower barriers to reporting. The Public Authority of Manpower urged residents to utilize the service actively so that inspectors can address non-compliant employers more effectively. This approach aligns with ongoing efforts to maintain compliance in a labor market that includes a large expatriate population.
A United Nations human rights assessment from 2017 noted that certain vulnerable groups in Kuwait, including stateless bidoon communities and children from migrant families, face heightened risks of exploitation including child labor in informal settings. Such observations have informed tighter regulatory scrutiny in recent years. PAM’s latest digital tool builds on that foundation by expanding the network of eyes and ears available to enforcement teams.
Legal specialists have outlined additional safeguards in Kuwaiti regulations, such as limiting juvenile work to six hours per day with mandatory rest breaks and prohibiting night shifts or overtime for those under 18. A review by the Arazaq Law Firm confirmed that these rules aim to prevent harm to the health, safety and moral development of young workers. The new reporting service will help authorities detect breaches that might otherwise remain hidden in unregulated sectors.
The launch comes amid periodic enforcement actions against illegal operations that have employed minors, including a 2026 raid on an unlicensed facility producing children’s food products in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh where multiple suspects were detained. Arab Times reported that such incidents underscore the persistent challenges in fully eradicating child labor from the economy. PAM indicated that increased public participation through the app should lead to more timely interventions and stronger overall labor market integrity.
