License in peril as Kuwait warns maids offices on recruitment halt
KUWAIT CITY, Jan 10: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will soon impose deterrent penalties on domestic labor recruitment offices that stop hiring domestic workers from the labor exporting countries due to the new procedures and decisions issued by Kuwait, say reliable sources. Sources disclosed the penalties could be as severe as withdrawing licenses permanently.
They affirmed that the inspection campaigns of the tripartite committee — whose members are from the ministry, its interior counterpart, and the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) — will continue to implement the latest decisions regarding the fees for recruiting domestic workers. Sources said the Sri Lankan domestic labor offices have stopped sending workers following the labor-related decisions issued by Kuwait. Sources also confirmed that the Sri Lankan government has not issued an official decision in this regard. Sources revealed the Sri Lankan domestic labor recruitment offices decided to suspend the recruitment process until they meet among themselves and coordinate their efforts about the recent decisions of Kuwait.
Sources explained that all applications submitted and those whose contracts were signed before this date are valid and will not face any problems, as the Sri Lankan labor recruitment offices will continue working on them. Sources reiterated these offices will not process applications according to the new recruitment fees until they clarify their vision in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) launched the smart ID for the employees of domestic labor recruitment offices and companies through the ‘My ID’ application in the interest of the public and to develop the working mechanism. In a press statement, the authority announced that the offices and companies recruiting domestic workers must issue the smart ID for employees registered under their licenses and submit copies to the Licensing Section at the Department for Regulating the Recruitment of Domestic Workers.
It stressed the need to instruct the employees to show the ID upon request; indicating that when citizens visit the recruitment offices and companies, they must verify the employees’ smart ID and match the contracts and receipts belonging to the offices and companies they are dealing with. Moreover, the tripartite committee has announced the suspension of 13 domestic labor recruitment offices on the second day of the inspection tour for violating the law and decisions of the Ministry of Commerce. The committee added this step was taken after the implementation of the ministerial decision stipulating the fees for recruiting domestic workers and the joint statement regarding the commitment to use K-Net devices for the collection of such fees.
By Najeh Bilal and Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
The post License in peril as Kuwait warns maids offices on recruitment halt first appeared on ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS.
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