India clarifies bank guarantee for domestic workers in Kuwait

The Indian embassy in Kuwait has issued a clarification on the bank guarantee provision for employers amid reports of maltreatment and abuses suffered by the Indian female domestic workers in the country.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding in a section of media in Kuwait regarding the decision to implement the bank guarantee provision of 720 Kuwaiti Dinars (equivalent to USD 2,500) from September 11 by every employer wishing to employ Indian female domestic workers," a press release by the Indian embassy in Kuwait said.

"This welfare measure has been taken by the Government of India as there have been some cases of maltreatment and abuses suffered by the Indian female domestic workers in Kuwait," the statement added.

"This bank guarantee provision has long been implemented by Indian Embassies in other Gulf countries (in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain)," it said.

The statement further clarified that the submission of 720 Dinars bank guarantee by a sponsor in Kuwait is not a commercial transaction as the Embassy is only asking for a bank guarantee, not a bank deposit.

"The bank guarantee measure would render benefits to both parties, as small issues of disagreements/disputes will not have to go to legal authorities. The bank guarantee will be returned to the sponsor in Kuwait, once Indian female domestic worker has returned to India, with his/her sponsor in Kuwait fulfilling his/her contractual obligations," the statement added.