In a new development that supports Kuwait’s efforts to curb the visa trade and fake employment, Arab and foreign ministries of labor have set a minimum wage for their workers in Kuwait, whether they are university graduates or not, in addition to domestic workers of all kinds, as the embassies of those countries prevent the ratification of new recruitment contracts without commitment to the salary requirement.
Al-Qabas has learned from reliable sources that the amendments to the ministries of labor of those countries and the establishment of a minimum salary support Kuwait’s tendency to curtail visa trade and fill the relevant gaps in their countries.
The sources stated that the labor attachés in the country have taken new steps to prevent the recruitment without a compatible educational certificate of the worker, in addition to setting a minimum wage, especially the new recruits, before coming to Kuwait.
The Egyptian Labor Attaché in the country supported Kuwait’s direction, represented by the Public Authority for Manpower, to close the door to manipulation and trade-in residence permits through more than one step.
In this regard the sources pointed to the efforts of the Egyptian Labor Attaché did not stop there, rather, it scrutinizes all contracts and tallies them with the titles and certificates held by workers wishing to work in the country, and rejects many contracts that do not comply with the qualifications or are recorded ‘as monthly wage.’.
The sources indicated that setting a minimum salary is also linked to technical, specialized, and domestic workers coming from the “Philippines, India, and Bangladesh”, as its labor attachés in Kuwait prevented the ratification of contracts without abiding by the minimum wage rule and other conditions to preserve labor rights, and to ensure that their presence in the country is what it called ‘for real work’.
Regarding the Philippine contracts, the sources stated that it is forbidden to ratify new professional and specialized employment contracts, if the monthly salary is less than 150 dinars, and increases according to the type and specialization of the profession, in addition to other conditions such as providing transportation and appropriate housing.
The sources indicated that there is a special value for Filipino domestic workers, whether men or women, where a minimum salary for a domestic worker is set at no less than 400 dollars per month (equivalent to 120 dinars), and 550 dollars (about 170 dinars) for a domestic worker as a driver, and it rises if the worker is specialized in medical care or care for the elderly.
The sources indicated that the cost of recruiting workers from the Philippines is currently high for companies because their recruitment is linked to labor agencies that receive a financial value equivalent to a month’s salary and insurance of up to $120 (about 37 dinars), in addition to examination fees and airline tickets per worker which costs up to 500 dinars.
As for Indian workers, the sources mentioned that the minimum amount for approving their contracts is 100 dinars per month, whether a domestic worker or an ordinary worker and sometimes a higher monthly value is requested according to the worker’s specialization.
There is currently a demand for Indian workers of all kinds due to their ability to speak the English language, thus facilitating their presence in some work sites, say sources.
As for Bangladeshi workers, a minimum ceiling has been set for contracts of no less than 100 dinars, and the demand is by companies working in the field of services and cleaning.
Informed sources said that there are African countries that will set a minimum wage for their workers brought to Kuwait after signing labor agreements with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Public Authority for Manpower, such as Ethiopia.
The sources added, the agreement is expected to be signed between the two countries, and the value of wages will be determined, starting with domestic workers.
Minimum wage list for recruitment of new workers:
200 dinars for Egyptian ‘non-university’ worker
350 dinars for the Egyptian ‘university’ worker
120 dinars for a Filipina domestic worker
170 dinars for a Filipino domestic worker (driver)
100 dinars for the Indian domestic worker
100 dinars for the ‘average’ Indian worker
100 dinars for a Bangladeshi worker
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