Khaled Al-Dakhnan, chairman of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices, stated that the union continues to exert efforts to develop the domestic labor sector through close coordination with government agencies and counterpart unions in countries that export labor. The union has signed memorandums of understanding with the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia to regulate recruitment of domestic workers, Al-Dakhnan added, though he noted that neighboring countries maintain a greater number of such bilateral arrangements. Official data issued by the Central Statistical Bureau places the number of domestic workers in Kuwait at approximately 757,000, illustrating the sustained scale of household demand that drives these initiatives.
Filipinos and Sri Lankans remain the most sought-after nationalities among Kuwaiti employers seeking reliable domestic help, according to the union chairman. Ethiopian workers are available but recruited on a more limited basis amid efforts to balance options across approved source countries. Recruitment-related fees and costs have been revised more than three or four times during the past five years in response to operational changes and market requirements, Al-Dakhnan said, while observing that domestic workers’ salaries in Kuwait remain among the lowest in the Gulf region.
Kuwait’s Law No. 68 of 2015 established a dedicated legal framework for domestic labor that regulates working hours, rest periods, holidays, end-of-service benefits and the provision of a return ticket upon contract completion. The legislation obliges employers to supply adequate food, housing, clothing and medical treatment, requirements that the Public Authority for Manpower has continued to reaffirm through awareness campaigns as recently as January 2026. A review by Human Rights Watch at the time of its passage described the law as a breakthrough that granted enforceable rights to a workforce previously excluded from general labor statutes.
Standard recruitment fees currently stand at KD750 for workers from the Philippines or Sri Lanka and KD575 for certain African nationalities, figures that have not always matched rising overseas operational costs, the union chairman explained. Most workers currently available through official channels tend to exceed the preferred age bracket of 23 to 34 years, a persistent gap that KUDLO aims to narrow through improved coordination with source-country partners. Lower fees charged by Kuwaiti recruitment offices relative to those in neighboring states have reduced the sector’s competitiveness, according to Al-Dakhnan.
The union chairman cautioned employers against engaging domestic workers outside the official sponsorship system or on an hourly basis without proper documentation, directing that any suspected violations should be reported promptly to the Public Authority for Manpower. He stressed the need for both parties to review contracts thoroughly before signing and to build awareness of their respective rights and obligations in order to limit future disputes. Complaints or inquiries may be lodged directly with the Domestic Workers Department, which operates under the authority’s oversight.
Arrival timelines differ by nationality, with workers from Sri Lanka typically reaching Kuwait within 20 to 30 days while those from the Philippines and Ethiopia require about 45 days, a period that remains subject to extension when additional processing is needed. All candidates must complete medical examinations at centers accredited by the Ministry of Health prior to departure, a requirement designed to uphold health and safety standards upon entry. Al-Dakhnan highlighted Kuwait’s established reputation for fair treatment of domestic staff as one factor that continues to draw applicants despite regional competition for the same labor pool.
A Ministry of Interior directive issued earlier in 2026 restricted domestic worker recruitment to ten approved countries, explicitly including the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia while barring 27 others, in a move that aligns with the union’s focus on regulated and quality-controlled supply channels. The Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices has participated in ongoing discussions with the Public Authority for Manpower to refine these policies and expand access to trained personnel. Data from the International Labour Organization previously estimated the domestic workforce at around 660,000 before the latest Central Statistical Bureau update reflected further growth.
