Kuwait has introduced new regulations limiting the recruitment of domestic workers to just 10 approved countries as part of a wider effort to strengthen oversight of the domestic labour sector and improve recruitment procedures.
The new framework, issued by Kuwaiti authorities, restricts the hiring of domestic workers from 27 countries while allowing recruitment to continue from a select group of approved labour-sending nations. The decision follows recommendations from several government agencies, including the Public Authority for Manpower, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health.
Sri Lanka Among Countries Approved for Recruitment
Under the updated rules, domestic workers can now be recruited only from the following countries:
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Philippines
- Nepal
- Vietnam
- Ethiopia
- Eritrea
- South Africa
- Benin
- Senegal (male workers only)
Kuwaiti authorities have confirmed that recruitment procedures will be processed through designated government channels as part of efforts to improve monitoring and administrative control.
Recruitment From 27 Countries Restricted
The revised policy also includes restrictions on recruitment from 27 countries, most of them located in Africa, along with a small number of Asian nations.
Officials said the changes were introduced after reviewing labour market requirements, recruitment procedures and administrative considerations related to worker mobility and employment regulation.
In some cases, restrictions apply only to female domestic workers, while recruitment of male workers may still be permitted under specific conditions.
Why Kuwait Is Changing Its Recruitment System
Kuwait has been working to strengthen regulation of its domestic labour market in recent years as part of broader reforms aimed at improving transparency and worker protection.
The latest measures are intended to streamline recruitment procedures, enhance oversight of recruitment agencies and ensure that domestic worker hiring follows approved legal channels.
Authorities have also stated that the updated framework will help improve monitoring of recruitment practices while reducing administrative challenges linked to labour sourcing from multiple countries.
Sri Lanka Remains an Important Labour Source
Sri Lanka continues to be one of the major suppliers of domestic workers to Kuwait, with thousands of Sri Lankan nationals employed in households across the Gulf country.
Many Sri Lankan workers are engaged as housemaids, caregivers, cooks and household assistants, making the sector an important source of overseas employment and foreign remittances for Sri Lanka.
The inclusion of Sri Lanka on Kuwait’s approved recruitment list is expected to provide continued employment opportunities for workers seeking jobs in the Gulf region.
Part of Wider Labour Market Reforms
The recruitment policy is the latest in a series of labour market reforms introduced by Kuwaiti authorities. Officials have increasingly focused on regulating recruitment practices, improving worker welfare standards and strengthening oversight of employment procedures.
By reducing the number of approved recruitment source countries, authorities aim to create a more structured system that allows closer monitoring of recruitment activities while ensuring compliance with national labour regulations.
The new rules are already in effect and have been circulated to residency affairs departments and service centres responsible for processing domestic worker applications.
Approved Countries for Domestic Worker Recruitment in Kuwait
- Sri Lanka
- India
- Philippines
- Nepal
- Vietnam
- Ethiopia
- Eritrea
- South Africa
- Benin
- Senegal (male workers only)
The move is expected to reshape recruitment flows into Kuwait’s domestic labour sector while maintaining access to workers from countries that continue to meet the government’s updated recruitment requirements.
