Bong Pekar
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has issued a new circular restricting the recruitment of domestic workers to only 10 approved countries The ministry also imposed a complete ban on 27 others, including Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo For Kenyan domestic workers, the ban represents a significant blow, as Kuwait has historically been a major destination for Kenyan labour migrants seeking employment as house helps, nannies, and drivers Elijah Ntongai is an experienced editor at TUKO.co.ke, with more than four years in financial, business, labour and technology research and reporting. His work provides valuable insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.
Kuwait has introduced sweeping changes to its domestic worker recruitment regulations, approving only 10 countries as sources of labour while banning recruitment from 27 others, according to local media reports.
Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah (c), gives a speech. Photo: Anadolu.
Source: Getty Images The circular, issued by the Ministry of Interior, aims to regulate the domestic labour sector, strengthen oversight, and streamline recruitment procedures.
According to Gulf News, the measure was adopted based on observations and recommendations from several government bodies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Public Authority for Manpower.
Which countries are approved for domestic worker recruitment in Kuwait? The circular specifies 10 countries from which domestic workers (male and female) can be recruited. For Senegal, recruitment is limited to male workers only. The table below summarises the approved countries.
Approved Country
South Africa
Benin
Senegal (Male only)
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Philippines
Sri Lanka
India
Vietnam
Nepal
Recruitment procedures for domestic workers from these approved countries will be completed through Kuwait’s governorates, streamlining the process for employers.
Which countries are banned from recruiting domestic workers in Kuwait? The circular includes a list of 27 countries from which the recruitment of domestic workers is prohibited. The table below lists all banned countries by region:
Region
Banned Countries
Africa (26 countries)
Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Malawi, Chad, Djibouti, Niger, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Senegal.
Asia
Bhutan
What is the significance of this decision for Kenyan domestic workers? Kuwait has historically been a major destination for Kenyan domestic workers seeking employment as house helps, nannies, drivers, and cleaners.
The ban means that Kenyan recruitment agencies will no longer be able to place domestic workers in Kuwait, cutting off a significant source of remittances and overseas employment.
For Kenyan workers already in Kuwait under existing contracts, the situation remains unclear. Typically, such bans apply to new recruitment rather than the renewal of existing contracts, but workers and agencies should seek clarification from Kuwaiti authorities and the Kenyan embassy.
The ban also reflects broader trends in Gulf labour markets, where countries are increasingly regulating recruitment to address concerns about worker exploitation, human trafficking, and compliance with health and safety standards.
Did Saudi Arabia reserve some jobs for local professionals? Yes. Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that Saudi Arabia had expanded its Saudisation programme by reserving 69 additional administrative support jobs exclusively for Saudi nationals.
This effectively bars foreign workers, including Kenyans, from roles such as secretaries, receptionists, translators, data entry clerks, HR assistants, public relations officers, and warehouse clerks in the private sector.
The new rules, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, took effect on April 5, 2026, with most positions subject to a six-month transition period ending on October 4, 2026.
The move was part of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to increase employment opportunities for citizens, reduce reliance on foreign labour, and follows similar localisation measures targeting other professions. Companies that fail to comply face penalties under Saudi labour laws.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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