Kuwait has become the first state in the Gulf region to set a minimum wage for its estimated 600,000 domestic workers, most of whom are overseas workers from Asia.
The minimum wage is set at 60 dinars (roughly $200 USD) a month, according to a decree issued by Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al-Sabah.
Al Jazeera reported that the decree also promised other rights, including a weekly day off, guaranteed overtime pay, 12-hour working days with rest periods, 30 days of paid leave annually and an end-of-service benefit when the contract ends.Kuwait becomes the first Gulf country to regulate the domestic work industry through legislation. Over 2.4 million domestic workers serve homes across the Gulf, and with the exception of those in Kuwait, they are not protected by labor legislation. [Full Article]
This news broke before the weekend but I didn’t want to post it until I got a bit more information. I was confused because from what I was aware of, the minimum wage in Kuwait was KD60 anyway so I didn’t understand why this was news now. But, according to Fajer the lawyer, it turns out the KD60 minimum wage was for the private sector workers and that domestic workers didn’t fall under that category. Now they do.
11 replies on “Kuwait First in the Gulf Region to set a Minimum Wage for Maids”
You’d think its good news, but from what I’ve heard that 60KD number is making a lot of people unhappy that they are paying 100 or 120 for their maids. It might actually end up depressing the wages of maids. I hope I’m wrong, they really get peanuts for a lot of hard work.
great news. spreading some optimism finally
Really? this is shit news. I mean I thought we were bad but THIS bad?
KD 60 is fucking ridiculous and is basically legalized slave labor. Aslan most embassies insist on a contract stipulating at least KD 120 a month so this will only encourage cheapass employers to pay less than KD 120 and use this law to protect themselves. I know many stingy motherfuckers are going to say “how is it slave labor when they chose to come here willingly” but thats a crock of shit answer since taking advantage of someone simply because they are in despair doesnt make it any better. The minimum wage for full time maids should be at least KD 120 a month other than food, clothing, accommodation, ticket, etc and it would be even better if it was KD 150 #elra7maYaRab
now they have thrown the proverbial spanner in-between the cogs.
it has been, for several years now, $400, minimum for some asian nationalities.
good luck with that 60kd a month and with all the ‘overtime pay’ blah 🙂
Meanwhile in India
https://www.bookmybai.com/
60kd… Those miser employers will be happy to decrease their helpers salary with this so called “good news” but i will stick to my commitment in paying my housemaid 100kd monthly. It’s between me and God. Those helpers deserve something good as they make life easier for us working mums.
Bravo! I second that.
A lot of people don’t understand that minimum wage is the least amount you can pay them. You’re not allowed to downgrade salaries and their are contracts and whatnot that prevent people lowering salaries. If you believe it there are maids getting paid KWD 45 and this protects them now at 60. Within the law as well is a weekly day off. 12 hour work days with 12 hours to rest as well as monthly bonus at the end of the first year. Depending what you pay your domestic help that is the price.
there are also maids being paid nothing, being raped, beaten and starved – more than most of us are aware of. It’s doctors, lawyers, engineers – not just the rowdy folk in Jahra either.
This is shit, has been shit for a long time, and will continue to be shit because Kuwait is basically a country built on the back of slaves.
Maids for Sale: Silicon Valley’s Online Slave Market – BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxz-vmbFXd4