Govt approves India-Kuwait pact on domestic workers

The government on Wednesday approved a pact, which New Delhi is likely to ink with Kuwait to set a framework for recruitment of people, particularly women, from India to work as domestic workers in Kuwait.

The proposed India-Kuwait Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was approved in a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The MoU will provide a structured framework for cooperation between India and Kuwait on matters related to domestic workers. It will also strengthen the safeguards for domestic workers, including female workers, from India employed in Kuwait. The MoU is initially valid for a period of five years and incorporates provision for automatic renewal, official sources said.

Nearly 3,00,000 Indian domestic workers are employed in Kuwait. They include around 90,000 women.

The proposed pact also provides for establishment of a joint committee with representatives from both India and Kuwait for its implementation.