10/06/2026
BREAKING NEWS: MAJOR BLOW FOR JOB SEEKERS AS KUWAIT BANS DOMESTIC WORKERS FROM KENYA AND 26 OTHER COUNTRIES.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has officially issued a sweeping new directive that completely overhauls its labor market, dealing a massive blow to thousands of African migrant workers and employment agencies.
Under the strict new regulations, the Gulf nation has restricted the recruitment of domestic workers to just 10 approved countries, while placing an immediate ban on 27 nations predominantly from Africa.
WHO IS BANNED?
Kenya and Uganda lead a long list of prohibited African nations, which also includes Nigeria, Tanzania, Madagascar, Djibouti, Malawi, Togo, and Chad. For some of these nations, the ban specifically targets female domestic workers, while male recruitment remains under heavy restriction.
WHO IS ALLOWED?
Moving forward, Kuwait will only process domestic labor applications from:
South Africa, Benin, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Nepal, and Senegal (restricted to male workers only).
WHY THE SUDDEN MOVE?
According to Kuwaiti authorities, the decision follows direct recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Public Authority for Manpower. The state is aggressively tightening administrative oversight, eliminating loopholes, and forcing all employment pipelines onto digitized government platforms to heavily regulate the sector.
This policy shift is expected to trigger a massive re-routing of labor export pipelines across East Africa, leaving agencies scrambling for alternative markets.
What are your thoughts on this sudden move by Kuwait? Will this force African governments to create better jobs at home? Drop your comments below!👇