The total number of domestic workers expected to return to the country once the official decisions enter into force is estimated at 80,000 domestic workers, who will likely be allowed to return within approximately 4 to 5 months, Al-Qabas said, quoting sources.
The Council of Ministers in a meeting assigned the concerned authorities to complete the legal aspects and detail procedures to facilitate the return of domestic workers to the country directly from the 34 banned countries, an informed source told Al-Qabas.
Under the stipulated plan, the domestic workers will return in batches of 600 on two trips daily, while following strict health procedures set up to make sure all are tested upon their arrival to the country. Subsequently, they will spend time in institutional quarantine. Regarding the health measures taken, the source stated that the initial outline of the plan is that the domestic worker will submit to a PCR test before arrival to the country, and then another test by the medical and technical staff at Kuwait International Airport during passing through the entry procedures.
Another PCR test is conducted after the domestic worker has spent two weeks in quarantine. The source stated that the competent authorities have coordinated with the Hotels Association to discuss their readiness to allocate some hotels and buildings to be quarantine facilities for domestic workers. The source emphasized that all the presented scenarios did not receive final approval and are still being discussed by the relevant committee.
Possible details of the plan
A daily reported earlier that the lifting of the ban will be gradual, beginning with domestic workers, and may include at a later date other workers needed by government agencies and industries in the economic sectors. All returnees will be subject to institutional quarantine according to the requirements of the health authorities.
Noting the details of the mentioned return, only those with valid residency visa will be allowed to return, and among the conditions developed in the plan is the establishment of an online platform to register expatriates stranded abroad who desire to return to Kuwait before they are authorized travel. The majority of these domestic workers are from five countries – India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia on the 34 country ban list from where flights are prohibited from entering Kuwait, due to the measures taken to stem the coronavirus spread.
The sources said to Al Anba daily that the medical, nursing and health staff are fully prepared to conduct tests and examinations of domestic workers estimated to arrive in the thousands, and are awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Health. In addition, the chalets are ready to quarantine domestic workers at KD 30 per day which includes three meals for a period of 14 days. However, if the PCR test is found negative, the quarantine period is reduced to 7 days.
With regards to the prices of airline tickets for flights from the banned 34 countries, the sources revealed the government does not intend to burden the citizen with any additional expenses, and is working to organize a fair and balanced system that includes prices covering the expenses of companies without any increase to ensure the citizens do not suffer excessive expenditures. The prices may be kept at the usual standards, or with a slight increase depending on the type of classes booked on the flights.
The cost of supporting the travel expenses for domestic workers may include the ticket prices, the costs of staying in institutional quarantine, and PCR tests. Based on a decision to provide an exemption for a category from health service fees, domestic workers are exempted from PCR test fees.
Importance of Domestic workers in Kuwaiti Households
For many Kuwaiti households, having a domestic helper is no longer a luxury but a necessity, especially among those belonging to the ‘sandwich generation’ — individuals who find themselves attending not only to the needs of their children but also having to look after their aging parents.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown a wrench into the situation for some households, with reports of Kuwaiti families facing difficulty finding household help due to an acute shortage of domestic workers.
Domestic worker recruitment agencies blame the government for the shortage, saying they do not have enough workers to meet demand and that they are unable to recruit new employees because of restrictions from the authorities. Meanwhile, those workers who were on vacation when the coronavirus struck are stranded abroad because of travel restrictions imposed by the government.
Many citizens consider domestic support staff to be the cornerstone of modern Kuwaiti society; in particular, as they are seen to be essential to take care of sick or aged parents. For some families it is not possible to do without domestic helpers, as both husband and wife are out working during the day, and they need someone at home to take care of the children and tend to the house while they are away.
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