The Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has announced that Ministerial Resolution No. 6/2024, which allowed domestic workers to transfer to the private sector, has expired. This resolution, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, permitted domestic workers to transfer to the private sector within a specific period, from July 14 to September 12.

The conditions for such transfers included a minimum of one year of service with the current employer, the employer’s approval, a KD50 transfer fee, and a KD10 annual fee. Domestic labor affairs expert Bassam Al-Shammari has renewed his call for an extension of the resolution by two months or for it to be made permanent, similar to the practices in neighboring countries.

Al-Shammari emphasized that extending the resolution would significantly aid in addressing the severe manpower shortage and the ongoing imbalance in the local labor market. He noted that the shortage of professionals and craftsmen has led many business owners and private companies to recruit domestic workers.

Al-Shammari also stressed the need to allow expatriate workers to transfer between sectors without restrictive conditions. He argued that this would help restore balance to the labor market, stimulate economic activity, and support Kuwait’s vision of becoming a global financial and commercial hub. He highlighted several benefits of extending the domestic-to-private transfer policy, such as addressing issues related to domestic workers fleeing their sponsors to work in the private sector and reducing labor disputes affecting many workers.

Additionally, the Federation of Owners of Domestic Labor Recruitment Offices announced the resumption of recruiting new domestic workers from the Philippines. They stated that only offices which had not previously recruited Filipino workers are allowed to do so now, with their number limited to four percent of all local offices authorized to recruit domestic workers. The remaining 96 percent of offices are completing their procedures with the Philippine Embassy to resume recruitment.

Al-Shammari disputed this statement, calling it “completely false and lacking credibility.” He noted that numerous recruitment requests have been submitted by offices that previously recruited workers from the Philippines, contrary to the federation’s claims. He expressed surprise at the federation’s apparent lack of awareness of these well-known procedures.

He added that in the coming weeks, the Philippine Embassy is expected to expedite the approval of initial work contracts, known as ‘job orders’, which could increase the number of applications. Currently, the Philippines allows the recruitment of experienced workers only—those who have previously worked in Kuwait, other Gulf states, or other countries.