Cost of hiring Filipino domestic workers increases

The recruitment of domestic workers from the Philippines has started during the recent period and the demand for it in the Kuwaiti market has led to a significant increase in costs, Al-Rai daily reported.

Sources told the daily that the cost of recruiting a female worker from the Philippines now ranges between KD 1,400 and KD 1,600, including 890 for the office and the rest is the cost of institutional quarantine, PCR tests, and a ticket.

All these costs fall on the sponsor, and that if he wanted to bring in a domestic worker without involving the recruitment office, and he has a copy of her passport, the cost would be KD 890 only, including all expenses. But in this case, there would be no guarantee for the worker in the event of her escaping from the sponsor’s home or refusing to work.

The sources expected these numbers to rise due to the imposition of a total ban in Manila in last August and the high cost of labor agencies in the Philippines.

In general, the cost for the recruitment of domestic workers has risen significantly, thereby increasing the burden for Kuwaiti citizens, reports Al- Qabas daily.

The regulatory measures taken by the concerned state authorities following the COVID-19 pandemic did not bear fruit in the labor market, thus leading to an increase in the number of complaints from citizens and recruitment bureaus alike. Citizens highlighted the fact that the recent measures did not succeed in addressing the growing shortage, as they suffer in obtaining a domestic worker due to the high prices as well as the increase in demand versus the decrease in supply.