Progress may have been made for the facilitating of the return of domestic workers to Kuwait, however, it is still unknown if this will help curtail the black market where runaway domestic workers can earn up to KD400 for an hourly work.
It was recently reported by Al-Shahed daily, quoting security sources that a gang of Asians were contacting maids through social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp groups to persuade them to flee their sponsors to work under the hourly system. They enticed the maids by highlighting that working for these illegal recruiters would earn them money exceeding their salaries from their Kuwaiti families. Consequently, a large number of domestic workers started to bargain with their employers for higher salaries on the threat of leaving work.
The household helpers of Kuwaiti families would flee, and seek refuge in their country’s embassies, as certain embassies encourage the maids to flee to employ them for part-time with other families, which costs the affected Kuwaiti families heavily, the daily said, quoting sources.
As part of smuggling process, runaway maids are sheltered inside old homes and buildings, before being sent to work comfortably and safely under the hourly system.
The emergence of illegal domestic workers recruiters who operate like gangs prompt maids to consider looking into financial benefits and higher salaries, despite the cost of hiring the category rose remarkably, approaching about KD1500 dinars, and perhaps more.
Gangs contribute to smuggling of dozens of maids on a daily basis due to financial temptations and sometimes providing false delusions to exploit these domestic workers.
According to preliminary figures issued by the Ministry of the Interior to the Civil Aviation, the number of expatriates outside the country with valid residency amounts to about 420,000 expatriates, including the 82,000 domestic workers.
Domestic workers’ salaries spike to KD 400 in thriving black market
The head of Domestic Workers Recruitment Office Union Khaled Al Dakhnan, earlier highlighted that the monthly salary of a domestic worker on the unregulated black market has reached KD 400.
Explaining that “most of these workers fled from their sponsors and have absconding cases registered against them,” he noted, “despite this practice being illegal, citizens are forced to resort to illegal domestic workers,” Al Rai daily reported.
He added that “We have addressed all the official authorities but so far we have not received response, although Kuwaitis are in dire need for visas to resume for domestic workers, because 40 percent of the current employment contracts have expired and many want to return to their homeland, but Kuwaitis have no alternative.”
The ban on passengers from 34 countries, the stringent crack-down on illegal domestic worker recruitment offices, the return of many household helpers to their home country during the coronavirus pandemic, and a huge pent-up demand for maids in Kuwaiti households, have combined to create a thriving black-market for the supply of domestic helpers.
‘Maid brokers’ have quickly moved in to fill the existing demand-supply gap in the market by offering illegal domestic workers at exorbitant prices.
Brokers are filling the void by providing domestic labor services illegally and at high prices, taking advantage of the demand from clients and the lack of competition.
These brokers are advertising services of domestic workers usually African and Asian nationals, to work at people’s homes at a price of KD25 dinars for 4 hours and KD250 dinars per month. Al-Qabas daily said, quoting sources, illegal domestic workers network split the money earned with the domestic workers, with the worker taking KD10 for her 4-hour work while KD15 is the cut for the broker.
These female domestic workers have absentia reports registered against them before the start of the coronavirus pandemic or have fled from their sponsor’s home during the pandemic. There are also those whose residency visas have expired and who were working for cleaning companies. They were all transferred for deportation and their sponsors are summoned, whether citizens or companies, for questioning in order to take legal measures against them in the event their involvement is proven.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are 660,00 domestic workers in Kuwait. Under the labor law in Kuwait, domestic workers are unable to work in the private sector. Many view the plight of domestic workers in Kuwait as conditions of ‘modern day slavery’ where they often work long hours, are paid low wages and have little to no time off.
Impact on Kuwaiti families
According to observers, the high cost of hiring maids negatively impacts the Kuwaiti families, as it is a huge strain on their monthly salary. The majority of domestic workers are from the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India, while African domestic workers are least requested, following reports of many victims having perished under the care of several of them.
In addition, there is also health risks to Kuwaiti families, the part-time domestic workers, from illegal offices, often work for more than one family on an hourly basis, and increases their risk of being infected from a disease. It should also be noted that domestic workers often do not feel comfortable raising issues about their health.
Following reports that many Kuwaiti families are hiring temporary domestic workers from illegal domestic worker offices, health sources spoke to Al-Rai daily warning against the practice as they are at a higher risk of having an infectious disease, such as coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health has stressed that domestic workers undergo full medical examinations to ensure that are free from infections, whether they were recently recruited or have had their residency visa renewed to guarantee they are in good health for the safety of Kuwaiti families.
Health sources have called on the public to exercise caution and avoid the practice of illegal domestic workers in the interest of their health and safety.
Need for Domestic Workers by 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 have been stranded abroad because of travel restrictions imposed by the government.
Given the huge pent-up demand for household helpers, we set about on an investigative quest to ascertain whether domestic support staff were essential to Kuwaiti households, or were merely a symbol of luxury.
Many citizens said that maids had become integral to the smooth running of their households. They are responsible for cooking, keeping the house tidy, tending to children and caring for elderly members of the family, and undertaking various other duties that made them indispensable.
People believe that the current shortage of workers is a temporary problem, which will be solved when life returns to full normalcy. Many are also surprised to learn that Kuwait has not yet opened the doors to recruitment of domestic workers, as compared to the rest of the Gulf countries where adequate precautionary measures have been taken to ensure their safe return.
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.
