Are you ready for KWPS? Check PAM's 90% rule
Since 28 September 2026 Kuwaiti salaries run through the Central Bank's Kuwait Wage Payment System (KWPS), and PAM checks every company against two requirements. Enter two numbers and answer one question to see where you stand. Nothing you type leaves this page.
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Your result
- issuing work permits and authorisations (renewals are excluded)
- registering government contracts
- labour-requirement assessments
- certificates for official approvals and tenders
- registering company-owned vehicles
What the check is based on
PAM's electronic linkage with KWPS, as reported on 22 October 2026: at least 90% of the registered workforce paid through the system each month, and all registered workers paid for the most recent month. The full rules, the bank registration steps and the sources are on our Kuwait WPS page.
Read the Kuwait WPS and KWPS guide
Sources
- Central Bank of Kuwait: CBK launches the Kuwait Wage Payment System (KWPS), 28 September 2026
- Fragomen: Kuwait: New Wage Payment and Protection System Launched, 14 October 2026
- Arab Times / Al-Seyassah: PAM launches e-system to disburse pay on time, 22 October 2026
- KFH: Wages Protection System
- ABK: Wages Protection System FAQ
The 90% rule and the list of restricted services come from press reports of PAM's announcement (Arab Times / Al-Seyassah, 22 October 2026), not from a PAM circular we have read. Confirm your own position with PAM before relying on them.
This checker is a summary of press reports of PAM's rule, not legal advice. Confirm your own position with PAM.
Frequently asked questions
What is KWPS?
The Kuwait Wage Payment System, launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait on 28 September 2026 as part of phase II of the Kuwait National Payment System. CBK runs it; PAM monitors employers' compliance. It covers private-sector employers of all sizes.
What is PAM's 90% rule?
As reported on 22 October 2026, a company must transfer monthly salaries through the system for at least 90% of its total registered workforce, and must pay all registered workers for the most recent month.
What happens if my company falls below 90%?
If either requirement is missed, PAM restricts work permits and authorisations (renewals excluded), registering government contracts, labour-requirement assessments, certificates for official approvals and tenders, and registering company-owned vehicles.
Do I need to register with my bank?
Yes. Banks ask employers to complete a one-time WPS registration before the first salary run: KFH through WPS Registration in its corporate online banking, ABK through a WPS employer onboarding in ABKNet. Ask your relationship manager for your bank's steps.
Is anything I enter saved?
No. The check runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent to us or stored.
Who counts as a registered worker?
The workers registered on your company's PAM file. Use the number PAM shows for your file, not your payroll headcount, if the two differ.