KUWAIT: Kuwait will continue supporting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as a strategic player in the global energy system, Oil Minister Tareq Al-Roumi said on Sunday, marking the group’s 65th anniversary.

Al-Roumi said the founding of OPEC in 1960 was a “historic turning point in the global energy industry,” with Kuwait playing a “pivotal role from the beginning in supporting the organization’s policies and achieving its strategic goals.”

Speaking to KUNA, he noted that the group began with five founding members — Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Venezuela — during the “historic meeting” in Baghdad on September 14, 1960. “The establishment of the organization marked the start of a new era for producing countries, during which they affirmed their sovereignty over natural resources and ensured their peoples benefited from a collective vision to enhance national and economic development,” he said.

Al-Roumi stressed that Kuwait was not only a founding member but “an active partner in laying the foundations of cooperation among producing countries and consolidating the principle of national sovereignty over natural resources in the service of sustainable development.”

He pointed to OPEC’s role over the decades in supporting member states’ oil industries, stabilizing global markets, and engaging in international dialogues to enhance energy security. “The organization today, thanks to its enlightened policies, continues to support the global economy and achieve balance between the interests of producing and consuming countries alike,” he said.

Climate negotiations

The minister also highlighted the creation of the OPEC Fund for International Development in 1976 as “an important step in expanding the organization’s impact,” supporting social and economic development projects worldwide. He said Kuwait used this cooperation to strengthen national projects and development initiatives, reflecting its leadership within and beyond the organization.

Al-Roumi said OPEC had played “a major role in international climate negotiations,” promoting a balanced and gradual approach that integrates investment in diverse energy sources and advanced technologies while addressing social, economic and environmental goals.

He noted that OPEC had weathered many challenges and geopolitical shifts but had consistently “proven its ability to maintain supply security and market stability while encouraging energy investment and adopting modern technologies.”

He also pointed to the formation of the OPEC+ alliance in late 2016 as a milestone that “contributed to stabilizing oil supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Kuwait, he added, directly supported collective coordination policies, leading to “the largest and longest voluntary production adjustments in market history,” which were praised internationally.

“We celebrate today the 65th anniversary of OPEC, confident that Kuwait — through its ongoing leadership role — will remain under the guidance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, an active partner in strengthening cooperation among producing countries and presenting a model of commitment to responsible oil policies that ensure market stability and energy sustainability for future generations,” Al-Roumi said.

Forward-looking vision

Separately, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al-Ghais reaffirmed the group’s commitment to ensuring a balanced and stable oil market “for the benefit of both producers and consumers.”

He told KUNA that OPEC has “always shown determination and resolve in facing challenges,” describing the organization as “a center of gravity in the global oil market” that balances supply and demand while defending the rights of producing nations and the oil industry.

“OPEC has, for 65 years, been committed to cooperation and dialogue among all stakeholders to achieve stability in the global oil market and to address challenges through a comprehensive and realistic approach, ensuring that oil continues to support the development of nations and the prosperity of humanity,” Al-Ghais said.

He cited the 2016 Declaration of Cooperation between OPEC and non-member countries, known as the OPEC+ alliance, as one of the organization’s most significant efforts to address challenges. Al-Ghais also congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, recalling Kuwait’s “historic and leading role” in OPEC since its foundation.

He praised Kuwait’s contributions across six and a half decades, noting the work of its representatives, governors and ministers, which he said reflected the country’s “sound forward-looking vision and recognition of the vital importance of the energy industry to the global economy.”

Al-Ghais expressed gratitude to OPEC member states and their leaders for supporting the organization’s mission, adding that throughout its history, OPEC has also championed humanitarian causes “by supporting sustainable development, eradicating poverty, protecting the environment, and ensuring energy access for all.” — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Public Authority of Manpower and the Banking Association finalized in a meeting on Sunday procedures requiring employers to transfer wages of their workers through two electronic platforms, warning that failure to comply could result in suspending all labor-related transactions of the employers.

A statement issued by the authority following the meeting said the two sides discussed improving the mechanism of transferring workers’ wages through Ashal Companies and Ashal Banks platforms “with the aim of achieving the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency in the commitment of employers to transfer wages within the stipulated dates”.

The meeting comes in line with the supervisory role of the authority aimed at safeguarding the rights of workers and achieving stability in the labor market, the statement said. The meeting also discussed technical aspects relating to uploading the files of employers to local banks.

Acting Director General of the Public Authority of Manpower Rabab Al-Osaimi, who chaired the meeting, stressed that the next phase will witness a strict implementation of the electronic transfer of wages and employers who fail to comply could face the suspension of their transactions with the authority.

Meanwhile, a decision issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, who is the chairman of the Public Authority of Manpower, regarding regulations of working hours in the private sector, was published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm.

The decision takes effect from Nov 1. According to the decision, employers are obliged to enter all data related to working hours, break periods, weekend and public holidays into the electronic system of the manpower authority. They are also obliged to update them whenever there is a change. The entered data is considered as an official reference for the manpower authority’s inspectors during inspections of private sector businesses.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) said on Sunday that it has referred 50 senior officials for investigations for failing to submit their income statements within the stipulated period. Senior officials from the prime minister and ministers down to heads of sections in government departments are obliged by the law to submit their income statements upon appointment and after leaving office. Last week, Nazaha referred for investigation several officials for filing incorrect statements.

KUWAIT: The Central Statistical Bureau announced that the number of Kuwaiti citizens rose by 1.32 percent at the beginning of 2025, reaching 1,566,168 compared to 1,545,781 at the start of 2024. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s total population decreased by 0.65 percent, from 4,913,271 in 2024 to 4,881,254 in early 2025. As a result, Kuwaitis now account for 32.09 percent of the population, up from 31.46 percent a year earlier.

According to the population estimates bulletin for 2025 released Sunday, the number of non-Kuwaitis declined by 1.56 percent, from 3,367,490 in 2024 to 3,315,086 at the beginning of this year. The male-to-female ratio also shifted slightly, from 61.49–38.51 percent in 2024 to 61.21–38.79 percent in 2025.

In terms of demographics, the bulletin highlighted that continued growth among Kuwaitis reflects supportive government policies, coupled with a relatively young population

and a high fertility rate. Although modest, the steady increase indicates a demographic shift, as Kuwaitis gain a larger share of the total population — from 31.5 percent in early 2024 to 32.1 percent in 2025. These figures, the report noted, carry significant implications for national planning, particularly in public services, education and social programs directed at citizens.

The bulletin attributed the decline in the non-Kuwaiti population to labor market fluctuations, government policies on foreign workers, or broader economic shifts in the region. Despite this drop, non-Kuwaitis still make up around 68 percent of the population, though the trend points toward gradual demographic rebalancing.

The number of males fell by 1.1 percent, from 3,021,216 in 2024 to 2,987,971 in 2025, leaving men as the majority at about 61 percent of the population. The report noted that such a gender imbalance is common in countries with large expatriate labor communities. By contrast, the number of females remained almost stable, with a slight increase of 0.06 percent — from 1,892,055 in 2024 to 1,893,283 in 2025 — representing around 39 percent of the total. The report added that, while the overall number of women is steady, the balance between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti women may shift slightly, given the small decline among non-Kuwaitis.

The bulletin concluded that although non-Kuwaitis remain the majority, their share is gradually shrinking. Expatriate males of working age continue to dominate the demographic structure, while Kuwaitis maintain an almost balanced gender ratio. Among Kuwaitis, the largest age groups remain concentrated in the younger population, whereas among non-Kuwaitis — and the overall population — the largest segment is in the 35-39 age range.

The report recommended continued monitoring of labor migration trends and their demographic impact, as well as planning to address the growing demand for education, healthcare and employment services for citizens. It also highlighted the importance of policies that support family formation and encourage the retention of skilled expatriate workers in order to achieve a more sustainable population balance. – KUNA