Kuwait introduced new regulations governing the employment of domestic workers, narrowing the list of approved source countries and placing restrictions on recruitment from dozens of other countries.The Ministry of Interior issued a circular setting out updated procedures for hiring domestic workers, with recruitment now permitted from 10 countries. Officials said the changes are part of revised labor procedures aimed at organizing the sector and simplifying the recruitment process.Under the new rules, domestic workers can be recruited from South Africa, Benin, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and Nepal.
Recruitment from Senegal will only be allowed for male domestic workers, Kuwait’s Arab Times reported.The authorities said that all recruitment procedures will be handled through service centers at the governorate level, a move aimed at simplifying and organizing applications.In addition, the Department has imposed restrictions on hiring from 27 countries. The officials said that the decision was based on assessments and recommendations submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Manpower.
According to the circular, some restrictions apply specifically to domestic workers, while others cover broader employment categories.The ministry said that diplomatic and administrative considerations were taken into account when preparing the updated list, noting that some affected countries maintain official representation in Kuwait while other countries do not.The directive was distributed to relevant residence affairs departments and service centers across the country for implementation.Officials confirmed that the new employment regulations have already entered into force.