KUWAIT CITY, Aug 12: The Ethiopian Embassy in Kuwait has announced that it is now accepting local companies and offices involved in domestic worker recruitment to certify the necessary papers and documents.

Bassam Al-Shammari, an expert in domestic workers' affairs, noted that the embassy's certification process marks the first step towards resuming the recruitment of domestic workers from Addis Ababa. He explained that the certification will involve initial recruitment contracts, commonly known as "Recruitment Orders" and emphasized that this move will open a new market to address the labor shortages currently affecting Kuwait.

Al-Shammari mentioned that the actual recruitment process could take about two to three weeks once Kuwaiti government agencies begin issuing visas for Ethiopian workers. This process will be carried out under the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the two countries, adhering to local laws. He also pointed out that the recruitment of Ethiopian workers will help balance the market and alleviate labor shortages, given that the costs and salaries associated with these workers are moderate, making them more affordable for both citizens and residents.

Regarding a recent circular from the Ethiopian Ministry of Labor, which set the recruitment commission at $1,300 (approximately 400 Kuwaiti dinars) per worker to be paid by Kuwaiti offices, Al-Shammari stated that this commission is likely to decrease. He cited several factors, including the high supply of labor compared to demand in Addis Ababa, pressure from local offices on the Ministry of Labor to reduce the commission and facilitate labor export, and the fact that the current commission is higher than that in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. For instance, the commission is set at $900 in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and $1,000 in Qatar. He stressed that the continuation of the current commission would hinder recruitment, as it is not practical.

Al-Shammari further remarked that the high cost of recruitment would discourage most Kuwaiti citizens and expats from opting for Ethiopian domestic workers, leading them to prefer other nationalities, especially given the imminent return of Filipino workers. Filipino workers are popular among Kuwaiti and expatriate families for their ease of communication, high level of care for all family members, good educational background, and familiarity with local customs and traditions.

Moreover, the Union of Domestic Workers Recruitment Offices issued a circular to its member companies and offices, stating that it will not create or renew a "Recruitment Order" with the Ethiopian Embassy for several reasons. These include perceived discrimination and unequal treatment between Kuwait and other GCC countries concerning recruitment commissions and worker salaries, as well as the imposition of unfair commissions on recruitment offices and the higher salaries demanded by Ethiopian workers compared to their counterparts in the GCC. The union's statement to the Ethiopian Embassy concluded by saying, "Therefore, we inform you that we will not carry out any work or renewal of 'Recruitment Order' with the embassy until the decision is amended and equal treatment is achieved between Kuwait and the GCC countries."