Kuwait Loses Over 30,000 Domestic Workers in 18 Months
Kuwait is facing a deepening shortage of domestic workers, with official data showing a decline of more than 30,000 workers over the past 18 months — an average of 55 workers leaving per day — as recruitment challenges and regional competition intensify.
Figures from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) show the total number of domestic workers fell to 780,930 by the end of December 2024, down from 811,307 in mid-2023.
Officials say the drop is being driven by a mix of foreign labor restrictions, rising Gulf demand, and shifting domestic trends.
Hamad Al Ali, an official at a domestic workers recruitment office, said several Asian countries have scaled back labor exports to Kuwait, citing pre-arrival fees imposed on workers.
'The well-documented issue with Filipino domestic workers has also impacted the numbers,' he said, referring to labour disputes that have disrupted supply in recent years.
Al Ali added that some Kuwaiti families are opting to reduce reliance on domestic help, following a string of high-profile incidents involving worker-related crimes.
The labor shortage is being further fueled by increased demand across neighboring Gulf countries, where workers are drawn by better job offers and working conditions.
Meanwhile, Kuwait's own restrictions on certain nationalities have further tightened the labour pipeline.
Despite the drop, the country still has around 450 licensed domestic worker recruitment offices, though many are struggling to meet demand amid mounting constraints.
Officials say without changes to recruitment policies or international agreements, the shortfall is likely to continue—raising concerns about household labor gaps and broader implications for the care economy.
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