Bahrain, Kuwait: Penalty Introduced for Late Payment of Social Security Contributions to GCC Nationals

Bahrain and Kuwait have introduced penalties for employers that fail to pay monthly social security contributions on time. Previously, neither country imposed such a penalty. These obligations apply to employers of: 

• Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals in Bahrain or Kuwait; or   

• Bahraini or Kuwaiti nationals employed in other GCC countries. In this instance, the penalties will be collected by the relevant GCC pension authority in the host country. 

The exact nature of the penalties, including fine amount, has not been announced. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide updates when available. 

Employers across the GCC region are encouraged to review the contribution payment records of their GCC national employees to confirm that all required contributions have been fully paid and to ensure that future payments are made regularly within the prescribed deadlines. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].