Kuwait faces imminent domestic workers shortage crisis as contracts expire

The shortage of domestic workers, both old and new, is resurfacing as a potential crisis, with concerns mounting over the lack of adequate measures and actions from relevant government agencies to prevent it, particularly through increasing the influx of domestic workers to Kuwait.
Bassam Al-Shammari, a specialist in domestic workers’ affairs, predicts that the crisis will begin within a month, particularly with over 100,000 domestic workers nearing the end of their two-year contracts. Many of these workers show little interest in renewing their contracts or continuing employment with their current employers.
Al-Shammari emphasized that the crisis will intensify as students return, the second semester resumes, and with the approach of the holy month of Ramadan. He pointed out that there is currently a significant increase in demand for domestic workers, while the supply remains notably scarce.
Importantly, Al-Shammari attributed the shortage in labor offers to a lack of cooperation from foreign recruitment offices, which have intentionally reduced the number of requests allocated to local companies and offices. This is due to the ongoing implementation of Minister of Commerce and Industry decision 2/2024, which capped recruitment costs from Asian countries, including travel expenses, at 750 dinars.
Al-Shammari noted that foreign office managers are dissatisfied with this “trade price,” which is the lowest among the Gulf countries, where recruitment prices range between 1,200 and 1,400 dinars for Asian workers, and 800 dinars for African workers, excluding VAT. In contrast, the “trade” decision sets the cost at nearly half.
Ethiopian Workers
Al-Shammari expressed his surprise at the failure of relevant government agencies to initiate the recruitment of domestic workers from Ethiopia, despite more than three months having passed since the issuance of Decree No. 174 of 2024.
This decree approved the Memorandum of Understanding on the employment of domestic workers between the governments of Kuwait and Addis Ababa. He highlighted that no significant progress had been made to accelerate the recruitment process, stressing that the slow pace of government procedures and the failure to open the door to visas for these workers has hindered their recruitment to Kuwait.
Where are the promises of “Al-Durra”?
Al-Shammari questioned the promises made by those in charge of managing the government owned Al-Durra Company for Manpower, which recently claimed they would provide large numbers of domestic workers from various nationalities, particularly Filipinos, at a cost lower than even the “trade” decision—down to 700 dinars.
Furthermore, Al-Shammari emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who issue such unrealistic statements, pointing out that these promises seem to be aimed at gaining popular sympathy, despite the clear impracticality of implementing them in reality.
Al-Shammari highlighted that the solutions for addressing the domestic workers’ issue are clear and straightforward, and it has been consistently pointed out to them through Al-Jarida, yet, regrettably, they have gone unheard.
What’s important is that the foremost solution is to expedite the signing of memoranda of understanding with new countries and states that export workers, to mitigate any anticipated shortages. Additionally, there is an urgent need to promote activities that support the employment of workers, such as offering daily or monthly work options.
Kuwait’s International Reputation
Al-Shammari further stated that it has become essential to establish a new mechanism that expedites the resolution of labor disputes while safeguarding the financial and moral rights of domestic workers before their departure from the country. This mechanism should address key aspects such as paid annual leave, end-of-service gratuity, weekly leave, and a clear determination of daily working hours.
The nature of domestic workers significantly differs from that of workers in the private sector. The issuance of two separate labor laws tailored to each sector, highlighting the failure of authorities responsible for regulating the labor market to understand and address the unique characteristics of each.
Al-Shammari concluded that his lack of distinction, coupled with the insistence on treating both sectors as if they were the same, has led to a host of problems currently afflicting the domestic labor market, ultimately tarnishing Kuwait’s international reputation.