Uganda Among African Countries Barred from Exporting Labour to Kuwait
Kuwaiti officials say the new recruitment procedures will be managed through designated governorates as part of efforts to strengthen administrative oversight and regulation of the domestic labour sector.
Uganda has been listed among a number of African countries whose citizens will no longer be eligible for recruitment as domestic workers in Kuwait following a new directive issued by the country’s Interior Ministry.
According to a circular released by Kuwaiti authorities, domestic workers may now only be recruited from a limited number of countries including South Africa, Benin, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and Nepal. Recruitment from Senegal has also been allowed, but only for male workers.
The directive, which took effect shortly after its publication, bars recruitment from several African countries including Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Malawi, Chad, Djibouti, Niger, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others.
Local media reports indicate that the measure was adopted following recommendations from several government agencies, including Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and the Public Authority for Manpower.
Kuwaiti officials say the new recruitment procedures will be managed through designated governorates as part of efforts to strengthen administrative oversight and regulation of the domestic labour sector.
The development is expected to affect thousands of Ugandan workers seeking employment opportunities in the Gulf state, which has for years been one of the destinations for migrant labour from Africa.
For decades, countries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have attracted large numbers of African migrant workers, particularly in domestic work, construction and low-skilled service industries. However, labour migration policies across the region have increasingly become more restrictive, with governments introducing tighter visa regulations, nationality-based recruitment quotas and stricter labour agreements.
Experts note that access to Gulf labour markets is increasingly being determined by bilateral labour arrangements, compliance with worker protection standards and recruitment oversight mechanisms.
In many cases, African countries that lack formal labour agreements or robust recruitment frameworks have faced growing challenges in securing access for their workers to overseas employment opportunities.
The restrictions come at a time when labour export remains an important source of income and foreign exchange for many African economies. In Uganda, remittances from citizens working abroad contribute significantly to household incomes and national economic activity.
The latest policy by Kuwait is seen as part of a broader trend across Gulf countries to reform labour systems and tighten controls on migrant worker recruitment. Analysts say African governments may now face increased pressure to negotiate new labour agreements and strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies if they are to maintain access to key overseas job markets.
For Uganda, the decision could potentially reduce employment opportunities for workers seeking jobs in Kuwait, adding to concerns about access to foreign labour markets amid rising demand for overseas employment among the country’s youthful population.
