Kuwait - Serious restrictions on organising (2010)

The single trade union system continues to exist. However, despite the trade union monopoly imposed by law, some trade unions exist outside the Kuwait Trade Union Federation (KTUF), such as the Bank Workers’ Union and the Kuwait Airways Workers’ Union. In practice, reports indicate that foreign workers have joined trade unions before they have worked in the country for the statutory five years. However, less than 5% of the unionised workforce is foreign. Migrant workers remain vulnerable to abuse and retribution if they protest poor working conditions.