Kuwait announces major visa update

Kuwait

Kuwait has announced a major breakthrough for Filipino workers as it issues an update on a long-running visa dispute.

Kuwait and the Philippines have found an agreement to resume the recruitment of domestic workers from the Southeast Asian country, following a lengthy ban, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.

The deal was reached during talks between Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Bernard Olalia, which ultimately found a breakthrough to lift the ban on domestic employment from Manila.

Kuwait resumes visas for Filipino domestic workers

The countries agreed to form a joint committee pertinent to domestic labour affairs, one that would convene in a routine manner to address any sticking points that could potentially emerge, the Ministry said in a statement.

In May of 2023, the GCC country suspended new visas for Philippine nationals over a row involving the rights of domestic workers and employers.

Last year, it was reported that an estimated 268,000 Filipinos live and work in the country and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr spoke out on the ban on issuing new visas to Filipinos.