Khaled Al-Dakhnan, chairman of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices, outlined ongoing coordination with the Public Authority for Manpower and unions in labor-exporting nations to strengthen the domestic worker recruitment sector. In a television interview, Al-Dakhnan stressed that signing further memoranda of understanding would offer Kuwaiti citizens greater variety and elevate the overall quality of available workers. The union represents recruitment agency owners, relays their challenges and proposals to authorities, and conducts regular meetings with counterpart organizations abroad to refine procedures and cooperation. Filipinos and Sri Lankans stand as the most requested nationalities, Al-Dakhnan added, whereas interest in Ethiopian workers has remained comparatively low.
The Ministry of Interior issued a circular in June approving recruitment of male and female domestic workers from 10 countries that include the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Vietnam and several African states while prohibiting it from 27 others. Kuwait has already established memoranda of understanding with the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia, yet Al-Dakhnan noted that neighboring countries operate with a broader set of such pacts. Public Authority for Manpower figures place the domestic workforce in Kuwait at approximately 662,000 as of early 2025, underscoring the sector’s scale within the expatriate population that exceeds two million. Expanding agreements would diversify supply and ease strains on the local labor market, according to the union chairman.
Al-Dakhnan described Kuwait’s Domestic Labor Law as among the strongest in the region because it protects the rights of both employers and workers. The legislation sets clear rules on working hours, rest periods and weekly holidays while guaranteeing end-of-service benefits and a return ticket in line with contract terms. With 488 licensed recruitment offices currently operating under Public Authority for Manpower oversight, the framework aims to balance demand that has persisted despite periodic diplomatic adjustments with sending nations.
Fixed recruitment fees unchanged for years present a persistent difficulty even as operating expenses, ticket prices and charges in origin countries continue to climb. Al-Dakhnan explained that Kuwaiti agencies receive lower returns than those in competing markets, which reduces their capacity to attract younger and more skilled candidates preferred by families. Most workers currently available fall into older age brackets, although households generally seek individuals aged 23 to 34 who better suit typical domestic responsibilities. The union organizes three to four visits annually to labor-exporting countries for direct talks, although government bodies retain ultimate responsibility for concluding agreements.
Recruitment fees total KD750 for workers from the Philippines or Sri Lanka compared with KD575 for certain African nationalities, the union chairman reported. Arrival timelines average 20 to 30 days from Sri Lanka and about 45 days from the Philippines or Ethiopia under standard conditions, with possible extensions for extra procedures or examinations. Medical checks occur at Ministry of Health-accredited centers in the sending countries and cover basic assessments plus screening for infectious diseases before departure.
Al-Dakhnan cautioned that assigning a domestic worker to anyone other than the registered sponsor or engaging them for hourly work outside approved channels constitutes a violation that offices must report immediately to the Public Authority for Manpower. Sponsors should read contracts carefully and observe all provisions on hours, rest, weekly days off and benefits, he said, adding that heightened awareness of mutual obligations helps curb disputes. The Domestic Workers Department examines complaints concerning unpaid wages, end-of-service amounts or other entitlements and works to secure each party’s legal rights. Kuwait’s reputation for respectful treatment further aids in drawing workers, Al-Dakhnan stated, while sheltering absconding individuals remains punishable under law.
