07/01/2019
10197 times read
07/01/2019
10197 times read
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 6: Director of the Central Labor Inspection Department at the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) Mohammad Al-Ansari has warned that the department punishes employers and puts their files under Code 72 if they are caught hiring children below 15 years old without obtaining work permits which allow them to transfer their residencies from family visa (Article 22) to Article 18, reports Al-Rai daily.
Al-Ansari clarified, “PAM allows employing individuals who reached 15 years but are below 18 years old according to the conditions stipulated in the relevant law.” He pointed out the conditions allow employing individuals in the aforementioned age group provided they take non-hazardous jobs and pass the medical test.
He added that if an employer is caught violating the law during the inspection of commercial establishments, legal action will be taken in accordance with the procedures stated by the Ministry of Interior and the file will be blocked until the violation is rectified.
He said there is no training period for juveniles, indicating the 100-day probation period applies only to those above 21 years old in accordance with the conditions of PAM, such as the issuance of temporary work permit for this purpose free of charge. He clarified, “The legal age for granting a work permit is 21 years, not 18 as some people think. The difference between those below 18 years old and those above 18 is that the first is treated as minors while the second is treated as violators of the Residency Law. He added, “If a juvenile is caught, he will be referred to the Ministry of Interior and legal action will be taken against his guardian. PAM will also suspend the file of the sponsor and put it under Code 72, in addition to issuing a citation against the employer and referring him to the General Investigation Department to determine the amount of fine.”