The issue of housemaids fleeing their employers has become a growing concern in Kuwait, disrupting the daily lives of many citizens. This problem is often linked to fraudulent labor recruitment offices and brokers who entice domestic workers with promises of better-paying jobs in various sectors, including restaurants, cafés, and gyms.

Lawyers in Kuwait have emphasized the importance of taking immediate action when a housemaid absconds. The first step involves filing an absence report and consulting the Labor Recruitment Department at the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM). If the housemaid has been employed for less than six months, the recruitment office is obligated to refund the recruitment fees and cover the cost of return tickets. Additionally, citizens have the legal right to file a civil lawsuit seeking damages of up to KD500.

Security authorities have issued stern warnings against sheltering or employing runaway housemaids, as these individuals often violate Residency and Labor laws. Citizens and residents who provide refuge or conceal the whereabouts of these workers could face legal consequences. Cooperation with security agencies is crucial in addressing this issue, authorities have stressed.

In response to this ongoing problem, PAM has established a clear mechanism to handle cases where domestic workers leave their employers without notice. The procedure begins with filing an absence report at one of the Ministry of Interior’s citizens service centers. This is followed by lodging a complaint with the Department of Regulating the Recruitment of Domestic Workers at PAM. If the maid has been employed for less than six months, the recruitment office is required to compensate the employer. For cases where the sponsorship period has ended, the matter is referred to the judiciary to determine responsibility for compensation and the cost of the return ticket.

PAM and security sources have also cautioned against engaging with unlicensed recruitment agencies that promote hourly-paid domestic workers through various media, including social networking sites. These operations are often scams, and employers are advised to only deal with agencies approved by the Ministry of Interior. A joint team from the Residency Affairs Investigation General Department and the Residency Affairs General Department is actively monitoring and taking legal action against those behind fraudulent advertisements.