Breakthrough expected in resumption of Filipino domestic worker recruitment to Kuwait
Nearly three years after the Philippine government decided to halt the deployment of new domestic workers to Kuwait and restrict recruitment to those with previous experience in the Gulf region, signs of a breakthrough are emerging.
Bassam Al-Shammari, a specialist in domestic worker affairs, revealed that the issue is close to being resolved, paving the way for Manila to resume sending new domestic workers to Kuwait for the first time in several years.
Al-Shammari told Al-Jarida that the “tangible improvement witnessed in the domestic labor market on multiple levels — particularly the government’s seriousness in facilitating labor complaints, ensuring their swift resolution, activating shelters for workers, and safeguarding their rights — has positively influenced discussions on reopening the Filipino domestic worker file.”
He added that the long-awaited decision is expected to materialize within the first quarter of 2026, marking the formal resumption of new Filipino domestic worker deployments to Kuwait.
170,000 Filipino Domestic Workers in Kuwait
Al-Shammari noted that Filipino domestic workers constitute a significant portion of the sector, representing about 45 percent of the total domestic workforce in Kuwait — roughly 170,000 workers.
Historically, first-time Filipino workers have accounted for around 70 percent of new hires.
He emphasized that the popularity of Filipino workers among Kuwaiti and expatriate families stems from their strong communication skills, high educational standards, and familiarity with local customs and traditions.
Proposal: Salary Payments Through Banks
Al-Shammari also proposed that the relevant authorities — primarily the Ministry of Interior and the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) — adopt a new mechanism for paying domestic workers’ salaries through local banks.
He suggested integrating these payments into PAM’s automated system to enable direct bank transfers, similar to the procedures applied to private sector employees.
According to Al-Shammari, “this step would resolve the issue of irregular or delayed salary payments, protect workers’ rights, and ensure transparency in the employer-employee relationship,” noting that PAM already takes legal measures against employers who fail to meet payment obligations.
He stressed that implementing this system would significantly reduce the number of salary-related complaints currently received by the authorities.
