The Department of Labor and Employment said that Kuwait will implement a new measure intended to improve the working conditions and protect foreign domestic helpers including Filipino domestic helpers (DHs) in their country from human rights and other abuses.

According to report to DOLE Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas, the Kuwait government would soon enforce a new contract of employment that will specify the responsibilities and obligations of the worker, the sponsor or employer, and the recruiting office in the employment of DHs in the country.

Kuwait-based Labor Attache Leopoldo de Jesus said that the new employment contract for DHs would ensure the welfare of domestic workers and prevent various conflicts especially those pertaining to human rights that may arise in the course of the workers' employment in Kuwait.

“The contract would serve as a reminder of the responsibilities and obligations of the contracting parties”, de Jesus said. He also said that the Kuwait government is tidying up administrative problems to ensure the smooth implementation of the new employment contract.

Under the new contract, the second party or sponsors/employers must provide the DHs the following:

• full salary at the end of each month;
• proper accommodation, clothes, and health care;
• one day off each week; (4) one month vacation leave with pay each year;
• three breaks lasting at least one hour everyday, in addition to their sleeping time; and
• two-month vacation plus a return ticket to their home country if they worked for the same sponsor for two consecutive years.

The sponsors/employer would also be responsible for any work related injury suffered by the DHs. In case of death of the DH, the sponsor is required to pay a subsidy to the DH's kin equivalent to the DH's two-month salary, in addition to the salary for the month during which the DH died.

They should also shoulder the cost of sending the corpse of the DH to the latter's home country provided that the cause of death is not attributed to a previous illness and not within the six months guarantee after the contract signing.

In addition, the sponsor/employer, under the contract would be liable for any unlawful act it may commit against the DHs, and that it is also prohibited to allow the DHs to work with another person for the duration of the contract.

Source: DOLE Information and Publication Service