KUWAIT Eyes Suspending Hiring Of Ethiopian Maids

‘Ministries To Coordinate On Domestic Help Issues’

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 15: The Immigration General Department of the Interior Ministry is currently studying the possibility of suspending the recruitment of domestic workers from Ethiopia, reports Alam-Alyawm daily.

Reliable sources said the option was being considered in light of the increasing number of crimes and violations being committed by Ethiopian nationals. The decision, however, will affect only domestic workers. The recent crime in which an Ethiopian maid brutally murdered a Kuwaiti woman created a very negative impact, said sources, adding many Ethiopian maids were returned back to maid recruitment offices after the incident.

Security sources said Ethiopian citizens were involved in 87 crimes, including murders, suicides and torturing of children, in the last four years.

The ministry is currently carrying out a study aimed at controlling such crimes. A study on the subject was earlier submitted, but it was rejected. After the recent incidents, however, the ministry formed a committee to review the study and make suitable recommendations.

Sources say 90 percent of people polled by the ministry, including senior officials, support the suspension proposal. The ministry is currently thinking of ways to provide other alternatives as it cannot suspend the hiring of Ethiopian maids without providing an alternative.

Director at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Rashed Al-Hajri said here Thursday that the issues related to salaries and recruiting of domestic help would be a matter of coordination amongst state’s institutes.

The coordination amongst ministries would make sure that such manpower would not be manipulated and exploited upon, said the official, adding that such coordination would also ensure the rights of employers.

Any violations on part of employers or employees would be faced with legal procedures that would ensure that justice would be served, said the official who indicated that prevention measures would be discussed amongst ministries to make sure that all involved parties followed the law.
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