Kuwait agrees to regulate Philippines domestic workers’ employment after reports of abuse

Kuwait and the Philippines agreed measures on Friday to regulate the employment of domestic workers from the southeast Asian country. The decision was taken after a diplomatic row amid reports of abuse. Last month, Kuwait ordered the Philippines ambassador to leave the Gulf state, and recalled its own envoy for consultations after staff at the Philippines embassy tried to “rescue” citizens employed as domestic workers following reports of mistreatment. The agreement signed by the foreign ministers includes the establishment of a mechanism to provide assistance to domestic workers from the Philippines on a 24-hour basis, Reuters said. It also bans employers who have records of abusing domestic help from recruiting Philippines workers, and taking legal action against them.