Kuwait has introduced new regulations governing the recruitment of domestic workers, limiting hiring to 10 approved source countries, including Sri Lanka, while prohibiting recruitment from 27 others.

The new directive was issued by Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior as part of efforts to strengthen oversight and streamline labour market procedures.

Under the circular, domestic workers may be recruited from Sri Lanka, South Africa, Benin, Senegal (males only), Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, and Nepal.

The Ministry said recruitment procedures will be handled through the country's governorates.

The circular also identifies 27 countries from which recruitment is prohibited. The decision was made following observations and recommendations from several government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Public Authority for Manpower.

In some of the restricted countries, the ban applies only to female domestic workers.

According to local media reports, some of the countries listed in the directive maintain diplomatic representation in Kuwait, while others do not have embassies in the country.

The Ministry of Interior said the decision has been communicated to residency affairs departments and service centres, which have been instructed to implement the new regulations.

--with Agencies inputs--