By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports claiming that the Government of Kuwait has imposed a fresh ban on the recruitment of Nigerian domestic workers, describing the reports as inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, clarified that the recruitment and deployment of Nigerian domestic workers to Kuwait had been suspended several years ago at the instance of the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait City.
According to the Ministry, the Embassy formally requested the suspension pending the resolution of concerns over the welfare, protection and working conditions of Nigerian domestic workers in the Gulf nation.
It stressed that the current situation does not represent a new restriction by the Kuwaiti authorities but is a continuation of measures initiated by Nigeria to safeguard the safety, dignity and rights of its citizens seeking employment abroad.
The Ministry further stated that Nigeria and Kuwait would continue to engage through diplomatic channels on labour and migration issues to develop a mutually beneficial framework for the recruitment of Nigerian workers.
It noted that ongoing discussions between the relevant authorities of both countries are aimed at ensuring fair recruitment practices, adequate legal protection and decent working conditions for Nigerian workers in Kuwait.
The Ministry also urged Nigerians and media organisations to verify information from official sources before publication to prevent the spread of misleading reports capable of causing unnecessary anxiety among Nigerians living in Kuwait and their families.
