The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) in Kuwait has unveiled a new digital service designed to modernize and simplify the process by which employers report employee absences. This innovative system, accessible immediately through the As’hal portal, aims to reduce the traditional bureaucratic hurdles that employers have faced when submitting absence notifications. By moving the entire procedure online, PAM hopes to facilitate smoother communication between employers, employees, and government departments.
Under this revamped framework, employers can now electronically file reports whenever a worker is absent from duty. Once an absence notification is submitted, the concerned employee is instantly informed via the As’hal mobile application, ensuring transparency and timely updates. This digital alert system provides workers with a window of up to 60 days to contest or respond to the absence report by contacting the Labour Relations Department, thereby safeguarding employee rights within the new streamlined process.
One of the most significant advantages of the new platform is that it eliminates the need for employers to physically visit the labour department to obtain official signatures or approvals. Instead, absence notifications can be printed directly from the employer’s office, complete with a QR code that verifies the document’s authenticity. This feature not only expedites the administrative workflow but also helps prevent forgery and ensures secure verification of absence reports.
Moreover, the system enforces a strict timeline to complete the absence reporting procedure. Printed absence notices remain valid for three working days, during which employers are required to submit the documentation to the Ministry of Interior’s Residency Affairs Directorate. This final step is crucial to formalize the absence process and update the worker’s residency status accordingly. The introduction of these deadlines aims to maintain efficiency and accountability within the labour management framework.
PAM has praised this digital transformation as a significant leap forward in automating labour-related services in Kuwait. Officials believe the new system will lead to faster processing times, reduced paperwork, and improved service delivery for both employers and employees across the country. The As’hal portal, which hosts this service, can be accessed for all company-related manpower services at manpower.gov.kw, marking a key milestone in Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to digitize government operations.
In a related development, the Al-Ujairi Scientific Center recently announced preliminary astronomical calculations regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent, which determines the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr. their findings, it will not be possible to observe the crescent moon on the evening of Wednesday, March 18, 2026, which corresponds to the 29th day of Ramadan 1447 AH. The center’s experts, using precise global astronomical maps, concluded that the moon will set before sunset over Kuwait and many other countries, making the crescent sighting astronomically impossible on that date. This information is crucial for religious authorities and the public as they prepare for the Eid celebrations in 2026.
