The retirement age varies between civilian and military government employees, with factors such as gender, years of service, and the nature of the job influencing the retirement age. For male civil workers, the standard retirement age is 55, provided they have completed at least 15 years of service to qualify for a full pension. There are exceptions based on illness, job type, or death. Women, on the other hand, are entitled to retire at age 50 after completing 15 years of service for a full pension.
However, retirement can be taken as early as age 45 with 15 years of service, though this results in a reduced pension. This provision, often seen as controversial, was introduced by the religious political movement in the National Assembly with the aim of encouraging women to retire earlier and focus on staying at home. Military employees are eligible for retirement at age 50, provided they have completed at least 15 years of service.
There are some exceptions for special cases, and it is common in many armies worldwide to shorten the duration of military service. When comparing these figures to those in European countries, where there is less demand for labor, working hours are longer, and retirement ages are significantly higher for both military personnel and civilian government employees. In most European countries, the retirement age is 65, with a maximum of 43 years of service required to qualify for a full pension. Many European Union countries are gradually raising the retirement age in response to their aging populations.
This is driven by economic factors and the need to reduce pressure on social security funds. I write this in light of rumors that the government may seek to amend the law and raise the retirement age to 60. This move would be in response to the increase in life expectancy in Kuwait over the past three decades and to protect the Public Institution for Social Security from potential financial strain. I believe this amendment is a positive step and should be part of a gradual increase in the retirement age over the next ten years, so that it is in line with, or at least close to being in line with, the standards set by most countries worldwide.
Beyond the economic benefits of delayed retirement, this amendment would allow experienced professionals in academic, technical, technological, and consultation fields to remain in the workforce, continue contributing, and pass on their knowledge to younger generations. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has issued a circular to all mosques urging them to rationalize electricity and water consumption and to avoid prolonging prayer times. These decisions, such as turning off all mosques’ air conditioning units (6,000 units) immediately after the Isha prayer and turning them back on one hour before the Fajr prayer, are measures we have long advocated for. I had also previously offered to donate the cost of installing sensor-powered water taps on a trial basis in several mosques, with the idea that if they proved effective in significantly reducing water consumption, they could be implemented in the rest of the mosques. Unfortunately, I have received no response from the ministry, despite writing repeatedly about this matter. The ministry’s latest announcement is disappointing and highlights the lack of planning and careful thought in religious institutions. It reflects an inability to proactively save money and energy, instead of dealing with these issues only after disasters occur.
By Ahmad alsarraf
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