Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait sets new minimum wage scale for incoming workers

Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait has introduced a new salary scale for Bangladeshi workers entering the country, setting minimum monthly wages based on job type and professional category. The updated wage policy will take effect for all new employment contracts starting August 1, 2025.

The move comes as part of the embassy’s efforts to safeguard labor rights and ensure fair compensation aligned with the nature and demands of each profession. The salary brackets, announced in an official circular by the embassy’s labor department, range between 90 and 150 Kuwaiti dinars per month, with an exception made for professional cooks, whose minimum salary has been set at 250 dinars, reports Al-Rai daily.

Ambassador of Bangladesh to Kuwait, Major General Syed Tariq Hossain, clarified that the revised wages will apply solely to newly recruited workers and not to those already residing and working in Kuwait. He emphasized that the decision is intended to regulate the recruitment process more fairly and transparently.

According to data from the Public Authority for Civil Information as of the end of 2024, Bangladeshi nationals represent the third-largest expatriate community in Kuwait after Indians and Egyptians. Their population is estimated at approximately 284,000, with 189,000 employed in the private sector, 8,000 in government jobs, and 87,000 working as domestic workers.

The embassy explained that the minimum wage adjustments were made after reviewing current labor conditions and market requirements. The goal, it said, is to uphold wage justice and better align compensation with professional responsibilities.

The newly established wage list is categorized according to contract type and job classification.

• Domestic workers (Article 20 – civil contract) — domestic worker 120 dinars, general worker 120 dinars, cook 150 dinars and driver 150 dinars.
• Government contract workers (Article 18) — agricultural worker 90 dinars, cleaner 90 dinars, general worker 90 dinars, driver 120 dinars
• Civil contract workers – Regular (Article 18) — agricultural worker 120 dinars, cleaner 90 dinars, general worker 90 dinars, guard 90 dinars, shepherd 120 dinars
• Professional cook 250 dinars
• Civil contract workers (professional/industrial/construction; Article 18) — Professions such as air conditioning technician, car mechanic, barber, installation technician, machine operator, tailor, ceramic worker, electrician, plumber, builder, painter, blacksmith, curtain carpenter, land surveyor, and others 150 dinars

The embassy noted that the review was conducted to align wages with the current market conditions, job complexity, and the need for fair treatment of foreign laborers. The move is seen as a step forward in ensuring decent working conditions and preventing the exploitation of low-wage workers.

Ambassador Hossain emphasized that the decision reflects the embassy’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the interests of Bangladeshi nationals working abroad.