The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports claiming that the Government of Kuwait recently imposed a ban on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers, insisting that the development has been widely misunderstood.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry clarified that the suspension of the recruitment and deployment of domestic workers to Kuwait was initiated several years ago by the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait City and was not a fresh decision taken by the Kuwaiti authorities.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, was titled “Ministry of Foreign Affairs Clarifies Reports on the Alleged Ban on Nigerian Domestic Workers in the State of Kuwait.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken note of recent media reports suggesting that the Government of Kuwait has imposed a ban on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers,” the statement read.
“The Ministry wishes to clarify that the reports do not accurately reflect the current situation. The Embassy of Nigeria in Kuwait City had, a few years ago, formally written to the host Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend the recruitment and deployment of domestic workers and 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.”
According to the ministry, the measure was introduced as a protective step aimed at safeguarding the rights and welfare of Nigerians seeking employment in the Gulf nation.
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The ministry stressed that the development should not be interpreted as a new restriction imposed by Kuwait.
“Therefore, the issue is not of 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 citizens seeking employment abroad,” the statement added.
The ministry further disclosed that Nigerian and Kuwaiti authorities would continue discussions on labour and migration-related matters in an effort to establish a mutually beneficial arrangement.
It noted that both countries were committed to promoting fair recruitment practices, adequate legal protection and improved working conditions for Nigerian workers.
The ministry also urged members of the public to verify information from official sources before sharing or publishing reports capable of causing unnecessary anxiety among Nigerians living in Kuwait and their relatives in Nigeria.
Officials warned that inaccurate reports could create confusion and undermine ongoing diplomatic engagements between both countries.