Kuwait’s fight against human trafficking took a big step as authorities closed a domestic helper recruitment office in Rumaithiya. The interior ministry announced the raid on Tuesday, exposing illegal practices that exploited workers and broke recruitment rules.
Investigators found that the office hired domestic helpers under Kuwaiti citizens’ names and then moved them immediately to other households. Each worker was charged KD 1,200–1,300, far above the legal limit. Citizens who helped received KD 50–100 per worker. Authorities referred all involved to the legal system.
Kuwait has more than 700,000 domestic helpers, mostly from Asian countries. They make up over one-fifth of the expatriate population. Officials said illegal recruitment hurts worker rights and breaks the law.
At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) sent 24 officials to public prosecution for not filing required wealth statements. Senior government officials, including ministers and board members of state companies, must declare assets when they take office and after leaving. In recent months, hundreds of officials have faced legal action for failing to do so.
Officials said these steps protect workers, enforce the law, and strengthen Kuwait’s fight against human trafficking. The ministry said it will keep a close watch on recruitment offices and act quickly against violators.
The crackdown shows that Kuwait will not tolerate exploitation. Citizens and workers praised the action. Authorities are continuing the investigation to hold all involved accountable. By tackling both labor violations and corruption, Kuwait shows that Kuwait’s fight against human trafficking remains a top national goal.
