Kuwait Domestic Worker Laws 2025: The Complete Guide for Filipino OFWs and Employers Before Deployment

Before you board that flight to Kuwait — or before you sign that sponsorship contract as an employer — it's vital to understand the Kuwait domestic worker laws 2025 update. Kuwait regulates household service workers under Law No. 68 of 2015, and while the core framework remains, recent digital reforms, wage protection rules, and stricter employer requirements have reshaped how deployment and day-to-day employment actually work.

Whether you're a Filipino domestic helper preparing for a new contract or a Kuwaiti family sponsoring a worker, here's a practical, up-to-date guide on what you need to know.

1. The Legal Foundation: Rights and Obligations Under Kuwaiti Law

Domestic workers in Kuwait are protected by Law No. 68/2015, which sets out the minimum standards for employment of household workers, including drivers, cooks, nannies, and housekeepers. The law applies to all nationalities, but Filipinos must also comply with Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA/DMW) rules before leaving Manila.

Under this law, the employer is legally required to provide:

• A written employment contract in a language the worker understands, signed by both parties and registered with the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM).
• Monthly salary of at least KWD 60 (the legal minimum set in 2015). Many Filipino workers now negotiate higher, typically KWD 120–170, depending on duties and experience.
• One weekly rest day (24 consecutive hours).
• 30 days of paid annual leave per year of service.
• A return airline ticket every two years and at the end of contract.
• Free food, accommodation, and clothing suitable to the nature of the work.
• Medical insurance and treatment at the employer's expense.
• An end-of-service gratuity based on length of service.

Maximum working hours are 12 hours per day with breaks included. Passport confiscation is illegal, although unfortunately still common practice — workers are entitled to keep their own passport.

2. New 2025 Procedures: Digital Contracts, Sahel App, and Employer Requirements

Several updates have made Kuwait's domestic worker system more structured — and more transparent — in 2025:

• Electronic contracts via the Sahel app: PAM now processes and verifies domestic worker contracts digitally. Both employer and worker receive a copy, reducing disputes over verbal terms.
• Wage Protection System (WPS) for household workers: Salaries must be paid through bank transfer where possible, creating a verifiable record. Always insist on a Kuwaiti bank account in your own name.
• Employer minimum bank balance: Sponsors must demonstrate a minimum monthly bank balance (typically around KWD 250 per worker sponsored) to qualify for a new visa.
• Stricter visa quota: A Kuwaiti household can sponsor up to 3 domestic workers depending on family size and income. Exemptions exist for families with special needs members.
• Transfer of sponsorship: Still limited and only allowed under specific conditions (such as employer death, closure, or abuse verified by authorities). Always file complaints through official channels.

For Filipino workers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) requires the contract to pass through a licensed Philippine agency before POEA clearance is issued. Never accept a