Kuwait shuts down 25 domestic worker agencies amid crackdown

Dubai: Kuwaiti authorities have suspended 25 domestic worker recruitment offices for violations of the country’s domestic labour laws, as part of a broader nationwide effort to regulate the sector and enforce compliance, local media reported.

 The suspensions were confirmed by the Domestic Labour Recruitment Regulatory Department at the Public Authority for Manpower (PAM), which released May 2025 statistics revealing a dual-track approach: Alongside the 25 licence suspensions, 31 previously suspended offices had their licences reinstated after adjusting their regulatory status.

The campaign, led by PAM, underscores Kuwait’s efforts to regulate the domestic labour recruitment market, tighten oversight of agencies, and safeguard the rights of both employers and domestic workers.

During the same period, PAM received 598 complaints related to recruitment offices, according to official data. The total number of registered domestic labour recruitment offices now stands at 488, with seven new licences issued, 19 renewed, and one licence voluntarily cancelled in May.

Officials say enforcement campaigns will continue to target violations and bring greater accountability to a sector long plagued by abuse allegations, paperwork irregularities, and inconsistent labour practices.