Kuwaiti citizens are allowed to change details to the flight tickets for their domestic workers including canceling, modifying information, or postponing the dates on the tickets as part of measures to ease the burden on Kuwaiti citizens. This was accepted by national airlines within the framework of joint cooperation during a meeting held on Thursday between Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) along with other representatives discussing policies and conditions on procedures on reservation, modification and cancellation terms. The exemption on fees for ticket alterations is solely granted for those booked for domestic workers with Article 20 valid residency visas traveling from destinations specified in the plan for return of domestic workers and does not include any tickets for workers not included in that plan.
Arrangements are being made for the return of domestic workers which will start from Monday, which now includes the additional benefit to Kuwaitis to adjust flight tickets for their maids or drivers as per their needs.
Each national airline company has its own policies, but regarding domestic workers’ travel tickets, the policies remain the same throughout to permit altering information on tickets which includes easing the requirements, and allowing for amendments, and postponement of dates, on tickets, while exempting citizens from any additional 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.