Over 500 complaints documentated in the domestic worker industry
In the latest updates, Al-Anba daily reported that the Department for Regulating the Recruitment of Domestic Workers in Kuwait has made several changes to the licensing of domestic worker recruitment offices.
The Department has renewed 19 professional licenses, reinstated 31 previously suspended licenses, and issued 7 new professional licenses. However, no new licenses were issued or renewed in the latest updates.
Interestingly, the Department did not disclose the reasons for cancelling one license application or the nature of the violations that led to the suspensions or cancellations. Similarly, no information was provided on the nature of the complaints filed.
The Public Authority for Manpower has recorded 598 complaints regarding the recruitment of domestic workers, but the details of these complaints remain unclear.
It's worth noting that Kuwait's Law No. 68/2015 on Domestic Labor, as amended by Law No. 86/2022, regulates the working conditions of domestic workers, including limits on working hours and guarantees for weekly rest. The law also addresses the regulation of recruitment offices to ensure compliance with legal standards.
The Philippines-Kuwait Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Employment of Domestic Workers, signed in 2018 and in force since 2019, includes provisions for standard contracts and regulates the recruitment process, although this agreement is specific to Filipino domestic workers.
The Department for Regulating the Recruitment of Domestic Workers currently oversees 488 licensed offices, but 25 licenses remain suspended and unresolved.
For precise and updated information on licensing requirements, it would be advisable to consult official Kuwaiti government sources or relevant legal documents. The general trend in Kuwait's labor regulations is to improve worker protections and ensure compliance with international standards.
The Department's actions in the latest updates, such as renewing and reinstating licenses, indicate a focus on maintaining and revitalizing domestic worker recruitment offices within the industry, given the sector's importance in the broader business and finance landscape of Kuwait. The suspension and cancellation of some licenses, however, underscore ongoing challenges in adhering to legal standards, particularly with regards to the regulation of recruitment offices and the protections afforded to domestic workers in the country.
