Union criticizes MoCI decision on domestic labor hiring cost

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‘Sector currently exposed to difficult economic conditions’

KUWAIT CITY, June 8: Head of the Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices Khaled Al-Dakhnan affirmed the sector’s inability to rise and challenge the neighboring countries in obtaining trained domestic workers of quality due to the decision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to set the cost for the recruitment of a domestic worker at KD 890, reports Al-Anba daily. In an exclusive interview with the daily, he said, “In this case, the office owners have to bear the cost of the worker’ s flight ticket”.

Al-Dakhnan indicated that the union has repeatedly pointed out the difficulty in setting a higher ceiling for recruitment in light of the current circumstances, and the competition among many Gulf and Asian countries to attract domestic workers, especially from the Philippines, which constitutes 75 percent of the employment rate in the sector. He explained that the sector is currently exposed to difficult economic conditions, especially after the COVID-19 crisis that paralyzed the world as a result of the interruption of air traffic.

If the high ceiling for recruitment continues, it will eventually lead to many office owners having no choice but to close their offices due to inability to continue in light of the financial burdens surrounding them, such as rents, employee salaries, and other expenses.

The meeting touched on the fees charged by offices in the manpower outsourcing countries. They range between KD 795 and KD 875. The specified price does not enable Kuwaiti offices to enter into competition with other countries that are in need of labor but do not have a higher ceiling in recruitment. Al-Dakhnan expressed fear about the return of the black market under these difficult circumstances.

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