The Federal Government on Saturday clarified that the State of Kuwait has not imposed a fresh ban on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers, saying reports circulating in some sections of the media misrepresent the current situation.
Rather, the government explained that the suspension of the recruitment and deployment of Nigerian domestic workers to Kuwait was initiated several years ago by the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait City, pending the resolution of concerns over the welfare, protection and working conditions of Nigerian workers in the Gulf country.
The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Saturday in Abuja.
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According to the ministry, the embassy had formally written to Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting the suspension of the recruitment and deployment of Nigerian domestic workers and housemaids until adequate safeguards were put in place to protect their rights.
“The issue is not of a fresh ban imposed by the Kuwaiti authorities on Nigerian domestic workers, but rather a continuation of measures earlier adopted by the Embassy to ensure the safety, dignity and rights of its citizens seeking employment abroad,” the statement said.
The ministry said Nigeria and Kuwait would continue to engage constructively through diplomatic channels on labour and migration-related matters, with the competent authorities of both countries working towards a mutually beneficial framework that guarantees fair recruitment practices, adequate legal protection and decent working conditions for Nigerian workers.
It urged members of the public and media organisations to exercise caution and verify information from official sources before publication to avoid the dissemination of misleading reports capable of causing unnecessary concern among Nigerians residing in Kuwait and their families at home.