The use of the word, ‘maid’ in advertisements and job postings is no longer allowed in Kuwait as per the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce.
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According to the ministry, the purpose of this decision is to uphold the dignity of those expat workers, domestic workers, and the ones with the same status.
Now, Employers and Recruiters Forbidden to Use the Word ‘Maid’ in Adverts
The Kuwait Times reported that the ministry also said the use of the phrases ‘to sell’, ‘to assign,’ or ‘to buy’ will be replaced as ‘transfer of services.’ Moreover, the word ‘maid’ or ‘servant’ will be replaced with ‘worker.’
Another important thing mentioned was the use of personal data such as photos, residency, identity cards, and similar personal information about the worker is prohibited to be used in advertisements.
It can be recalled that Kuwait started to resume the recruitment of Filipino domestic workers after it was put on a halt following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia also announced a circular banning the use of some terms and words in job advertisements.
Similarly, it said that the word “maid” was no longer allowed to be used in job advertisements. Moreover, the word “servant” cannot be used.
Another positive effect of this circular is how it outlined that these workers will not bear any financial burdens “under any circumstances” due to any changes in paperwork.
The Middle East wherein both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are a part of, is one of the most popular regions where foreign workers go for employment, especially for blue-collar jobs. However, employment rights and benefits is an area wherein several governments in the region can still improve on.
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