FG clarifies reports of Kuwaiti ban on Nigerian domestic workers

Nigeria's government has refuted claims that Kuwait imposed a new ban on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers, characterizing the reports as misleading. Recent media coverage suggested that Kuwaiti authorities had implemented restrictions on workers from Nigeria and several other African nations.

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The reports DO NOT accurately reflect the current situation. The Embassy of Nigeria in Kuwait City, Kuwait, had, a few years ago, formally written to the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend the recruitment and deployment of domestic workers/housemaids from Nigeria to the State of Kuwait pending the resolution of concerns relating to the welfare, protection, and working conditions of Nigerian domestic workers in the country.

However, Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement clarifying that the suspension of recruitment was not a recent measure by Kuwait. Instead, it originated from a formal request made by the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait City several years ago. The embassy sought the suspension due to persistent concerns regarding the welfare, protection, and working conditions of Nigerian domestic workers in the country.

Kuwait is a significant destination for migrant workers from Africa, particularly in domestic roles, construction, and low-skilled service sectors. The Nigerian ministry acknowledged that the conditions for Nigerians in Kuwait have been questionable. The current situation, the statement emphasized, is a continuation of measures previously adopted by the Nigerian Embassy to safeguard the dignity and rights of its citizens seeking employment abroad.

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The issue is not a fresh ban imposed by the Kuwaiti authorities on Nigerian domestic workers, but rather a continuation of measures earlier adopted by the Embassy to ensure the safety, dignity, and rights of its citizens seeking employment abroad.

Both Nigeria and Kuwait are actively collaborating to establish a mutually beneficial framework that ensures fair recruitment practices. The priority is to guarantee adequate legal protection and decent working conditions for Nigerian workers in Kuwait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the public to exercise caution and verify information from official sources to prevent the spread of misleading reports that could cause unnecessary anxiety for Nigerians living in Kuwait and their families back home.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges members of the public to exercise caution and verify information from official sources before publication to avoid the dissemination of misleading reports that could cause unnecessary concern among Nigerians residing in Kuwait and their families at home.