What is PAM? Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower, Explained

PAM (Arabic: الهيئة العامة للقوى العاملة) is the Kuwaiti government authority that regulates the labour market — including every legal domestic-worker recruitment office in the country. If you are hiring a housemaid, nanny, cook or driver in Kuwait, PAM’s rules are the rules of the game.

PAM at a glance

Established by Law No. 109 of 2013; operational since 2014
Licenses and inspects domestic-worker recruitment offices
Enforces the Domestic Workers Law (Law No. 68 of 2015)
Works alongside the Ministry of Interior, which issues the worker’s Article 20 residency

Definition

The Public Authority for Manpower is Kuwait’s labour regulator. For households, its most important role is the domestic-labour file: it licenses the recruitment offices families hire through, sets the standard contract, monitors office conduct and prices, and handles complaints under Law 68/2015. No office may legally recruit domestic workers into Kuwait without operating under PAM’s licence.

Kuwait domestic visa & residency check — step by step

A domestic worker in Kuwait holds an Article 20 residency issued by the Ministry of Interior. To check status:

Open Kuwait’s official MOI e-services or the government Sahel app.
Choose the residency enquiry service.
Enter the worker’s Civil ID number.
The result shows residency validity and expiry — free and instant.

If you hired through an office, the office tracks permits for you — but the check above lets you confirm anything yourself in under a minute.

How hiring works under PAM

Choose a PAM-licensed office (or the state-owned Al-Durra company) and agree the candidate profile.
Sign the standard tripartite contract — salary, rest day, leave and end-of-service are written terms.
The worker completes the Gulf-approved medical (Wafid/GAMCA) in her home country.
Entry visa and Article 20 residency are processed; typical timeline 4–8 weeks.

2026 costs: one-time recruitment KWD 700–1,300 by nationality; monthly salaries roughly KWD 90–140 (legal minimum KWD 75). The employer provides food, accommodation and medical care per the contract.

How to verify an office with PAM

Ask for the PAM licence and match the name to your contract and invoice.
Red flags: cash-only deals, prices far below market, “visit visa” arrangements, or any office holding workers’ passports.
Every Kuwait agency listed on GCC Domestic shows its licence status — browse verified Kuwait offices.

PAM vs Al-Durra vs MOI

PAM regulates and licenses offices. Al-Durra is the state-owned recruitment company operating under those rules (see What is Al-Durra?). The Ministry of Interiorissues the worker’s Article 20 residency. Three bodies, one legal chain — and the family only ever deals with a licensed office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PAM in Kuwait?

PAM is the Public Authority for Manpower (الهيئة العامة للقوى العاملة) — Kuwait's government authority established by Law No. 109 of 2013. It regulates the labour market, licenses domestic-worker recruitment offices, and enforces the Domestic Workers Law (Law No. 68 of 2015).

How do I check a domestic worker's visa or residency in Kuwait?

Domestic workers hold an Article 20 residency issued by the Ministry of Interior. You can check residency validity through Kuwait's official MOI e-services or the Sahel app using the worker's Civil ID number — free and instant.

How do I verify a recruitment office is licensed by PAM?

Ask the office for its PAM licence and match the licence name to the name on your contract and invoice. A legitimate office shares its licence openly; if it hesitates, walk away.

What rights does Kuwait's Domestic Workers Law give?

Law No. 68 of 2015 guarantees a standard contract, a monthly salary paid on time (minimum set by ministerial decision, KWD 75), a weekly rest day, 30 days of paid annual leave, a 12-hour maximum working day with rest, and end-of-service pay of one month per year. The worker keeps her own passport.

How much does it cost to hire a housemaid in Kuwait?

One-time recruitment through a PAM-licensed office typically runs KWD 700–1,300 depending on nationality, with monthly salaries of roughly KWD 90–140. The employer also provides food, accommodation and medical care per the contract.

What is the difference between PAM and Al-Durra?

PAM is the regulator that licenses and oversees all recruitment offices. Al-Durra is the state-owned recruitment company — one of the offices operating under PAM's rules, created to offer government-priced recruitment.