KUWAIT CITY, Oct 6, (Agencies): The head of the Union of Domestic Workers Offices Khaled Al-Dakhnan has appealed to the relevant authorities to postpone the opening of visas for Ethiopian domestic workers until a resolution to the salary issue is reached, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In a press statement, Al-Dakhnan stressed the need to address the issue of high salaries of Ethiopian domestic workers in Kuwait compared to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. While he acknowledged that the market needs these workers, he insisted that the salary issue must be reconsidered.

Al-Dakhnan said, “We welcome the opening of recruitment from various countries, but coordination with the relevant authorities that interact directly with citizens and foreign recruitment offices is essential”, adding that certain details are necessary for the proper organization of the recruitment process. He insisted that reviewing the salaries of Ethiopian domestic workers is necessary to protect the interests of Kuwaiti citizens, particularly since salaries in GCC countries are lower than those currently offered in Kuwait. He called for equality in this regard. On May 27, Kuwait and Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the employment of domestic workers, which included provisions addressing this matter. The memorandum of understanding between Kuwait and Ethiopia on the recruitment of domestic workers outlines the duties and rights of both parties and ensures the rights and protection of all Ethiopian domestic workers in Kuwait, reports Al-Rai daily. This MoU, issued by a decree and published in the official gazette, details areas of cooperation and the responsibilities of each party.

Among the Kuwaiti side’s responsibilities is the assurance that passports or mobile phones will not be confiscated from domestic workers. Both parties have agreed to prevent discrimination against domestic workers, guarantee their rights at work, and uphold all rights by the laws of both countries and their commitments under international law. The MoU also aims to reduce the costs associated with recruiting domestic workers and stipulates that recruitment should be conducted through agencies, offices, or companies licensed by both governments. Following the issuance of decree No. 174/2024 that approves the memorandum of understanding signed between the governments of Kuwait and Ethiopia for the recruitment of domestic workers, a specialist in domestic labor affairs Bassam Al- Shammari says the local recruitment offices are now awaiting the Ministry of Interior’s official announcement regarding the opening of visa applications for recruiting these workers from Addis Ababa.

In a press statement, Al-Shammari indicated that once the decree is published in the official gazette, the offices will begin completing the procedures for initial recruitment contracts, known as “job orders”, from the Ethiopian side before commencing the actual recruitment process, which is expected to take place shortly. He said he anticipates significant demand from both Kuwaiti and expatriate families for these services, citing the low cost of recruitment, which is no more than KD 750, as a major factor. Al-Shammari underscored the limited number of countries exporting domestic workers to Kuwait, explaining that the introduction of Ethiopian domestic workers comes at the right time. Currently, Kuwait relies primarily on just two countries for this workforce, along with a recently lifted ban on experienced Filipino workers, which excludes newcomers and has led to a loss of about 70 percent of the domestic workers who used to arrive in the country. Al-Shammari urged relevant government agencies to address any previous shortcomings in protecting the rights of domestic workers comprehensively and to enforce the law strictly against any violations.