We were hired in the Philippines by an agency and had verbal agreement that our basic salary would be KD 85 + a food allowance of 20  = 105 because we didn’t have an idea about the basic salary here in Kuwait. But in our contract, authenticated by POEA in the Philippines, it’s KD 120. It’s been 2 years since we came to Kuwait and we are still getting KD 105. Shouldn’t we get KD 120? What can we do about it?

Name withheld

Answer: It seems that the KD 120 mentioned in your contract was just paperwork to get the same approved by Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) because you agreed to the KD 105 deal.

Now, if you had been offered more and given less, you could have questioned the motives of the company.
But when it comes down to ethics, the company is giving you exactly what it verbally promised, although if the case went to court, you could most probably win as the contract mentions KD 120.

But in all fairness, the company is right here because you are getting what was verbally agreed with you. You  knew you would get KD 105, so why are you pushing for what’s written on a piece of paper when the company has “not broken its word.” It’s you who are thinking on these lines.

The best thing would be to ask the company for an increase in your salary instead of resorting to legal channels which may get you nowhere.