Latest news with #SahelBusiness
Arab Times
a day ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Sahel Business app rolls out new update for enhanced user experience
KUWAIT CITY, June 19: The unified government e-services platform Sahel has released a new update to its Sahel Business smartphone application, aimed at improving services for business owners, announced spokesperson Yousef Kazem on Wednesday. Kazem stated that the update features an upgraded digital infrastructure, a user-friendly interface, and instant notification capabilities, enhancing the overall efficiency of the application. Since its launch, Sahel Business has completed 498,927 services for 95,518 users. The application offers access to 214 electronic services related to business and commercial activities, provided by 18 government agencies in Kuwait.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait To Offer Exit Permits In English For Expats Soon
KUWAIT CITY, June 17: The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) is now preparing for the implementation of the exit permit system for expatriate workers in the private sector that will take effect on July 1. The authority also reviewed the comments of relevant government agencies on the system and it has started coordinating with other concerned government agencies to activate the system. It continues to hold a series of meetings in order to address and respond to any comment. Acting Deputy Director for Planning and Administrative Development at PAM Rabab Al-Osaimi disclosed that the issuance of an exit permit through the announced systems enables the workers to avail services through the 'Easy Companies' page or 'Easy Manpower' page under the 'Labor Services' portal, in addition to the Sahel Individuals application. She confirmed that 'The new service was activated as per the directive of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousuf to protect the rights of both the workers and employers.' She said, 'Employers can now submit a request for permission to leave the country, specifying the period during which the worker is permitted to leave. The certificate containing a QR code must be printed to verify its authenticity at the ports or presented electronically through the official platforms.' She added, 'Workers can also submit the request through the Sahel Individuals app, where a special option is provided for the service and linked to the Sahel Business app. Notifications are sent directly to the worker after the employer's approval, and the certificate is then uploaded. Submitting the request and obtaining approval only takes a few minutes, as the service entails a direct link between the worker and the employer. There will be no intervention by authority employees to review the requests. The services will be launched in English soon. PAM continues to update and develop its electronic services to ensure they operate efficiently around the clock, as well as guarantee the quality, speed of implementation, and improved user experience. The increased demand for electronic services has saved effort and improved employee performance, as automated systems receive no fewer than 30,000 electronic transactions daily in various platforms and portals of the authority.'
Arab Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Expat exit permit based on worker's choice
KUWAIT CITY, June 12: Director of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Marzouq Al-Otaibi confirmed that the departure permit granted to expatriate workers in the private sector (Article 18) is determined based on the wishes of the workers, as they have the right to choose the start and end dates of the permit upon submitting the application. In a statement to the newspaper, Al-Otaibi explained that the departure permit is used only to document the worker's departure date from the country and does not entail any commitment to a specific return date. He emphasized that this permit does not restrict the worker to a specific return date. He pointed out that this measure is part of a series of services offered by the authority to provide the necessary flexibility for workers and employers; enabling them to arrange travel procedures in line with their specific circumstances, while simultaneously maintaining the organization of the labor market and ensuring compliance with applicable laws. 'This is under the directives of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah,' he added. In a related development, PAM announced Thursday the launching of two online services -- Requesting an Exit Permit for Workers under Article 18 Visa on the unified government application for electronic services (Sahel) and Approving the Request through the unified government application for employers (Sahel Business). In a press statement, the authority disclosed that the service launched through the Sahel application allows workers to submit an electronic exit permit request to their employer, while the other service through the Sahel Business application enables employers to review and approve exit permit requests submitted by their employees. It added that the launching of the two services is in compliance with the circular issued by Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef earlier; obligating expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain an 'exit permit' from their employers before leaving the country, starting from July 1.
Arab Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Emergency Exit Permits For Expats in Kuwait Available 24/7
KUWAIT CITY, June 11: A senior source at the Public Authority for Manpower stated that the recent decision mandating exit permits for private sector workers before travel is aimed at safeguarding the rights of both employees and employers. The source explained that the regulation, which comes into effect on July 1, applies to all private sector workers holding residency under Article 18. According to the source, applications for exit permits can be submitted electronically through multiple platforms, including the Sahel Individuals app (for expats) and the Ashel Manpower Portal. Once a worker applies, the employer must approve it via the Sahel Business app or the Ashel platform designated for private companies under the authority's supervision. The source added that employers are also permitted to initiate exit permit requests on behalf of workers in emergencies or for employees who do not have access to the Sahel application. He emphasized that while the employer holds the authority to approve the exit permit, the process remains simple and accessible. In cases of urgent travel, the service is available 24/7 and is designed to be free of complications.
Zawya
07-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait requires degree checks for work permits
KUWAIT CITY - Acting Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Marzouq Al-Otaibi recently issued a circular approving the implementation of the procedures regarding the academic qualifications and professions of migrant workers, those from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Bedoun workers in terms of the issuance, renewal, and amendment of various types of work permits at labor departments through the Ashal portal for employers or the Sahel Business app. The Alseyassah/Arab Times obtained a copy of the circular; stating that the workers' academic qualifications have three determinants: educational level like doctorate, master's, bachelor's or diploma; field of specialization like Commercial Law or Biochemistry; and status of the qualification like unrecognized, preliminary recognition, administrative recognition or accreditation based on the Ministry of Higher Education equivalency. The manual stipulates that the employees' duties include verifying the compatibility between the field of specialization and profession specified in the application, while the educational level and accreditation status are verified through the automated system. The academic qualification attachment is verified only if the system requires the employer to upload it along with the work permit-related application. For engineering professions, approvals are verified automatically through the system. Applications that do not have the required approval are automatically rejected. An electronic attachment is automatically added to the application to confirm that the employee received approval. For non-engineering professions that require prior approval for permit and work permit services, the employer is required to upload a copy of the approval as an attachment to the application. Several services are automatically accredited. These include renewing work permits for expatriates, renewing work permits for Gulf nationals and renewing work permits for those residing legally in Kuwait; provided the renewal is for the same profession. These services do not require attachment of approvals or academic qualifications to the application. By Fares Al-Abdan Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
