FILIPINOS IN KUWAIT
WORK AS

Household Managers

Office Managers

Drivers

Licensed Professionals

     Minimum Salary Rate: US$200

MODES  OF  RECRUITMENT:

Hiring through Philippine Recruitment Agencies

Name Hiring (Worker sought employment on his own)

PROCESSING COST
FOR AGENCY HIRE

PROCESSING COST FOR
NAME  HIRE

TOP 10 LICENSED AGENCIES DEPLOYING TO KUWAIT IN 2003

1.      Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corp.

2.      Mirben International Manpower Services

3.      Al-Alamia International Manpower Services

4.      Al-Mezal International Manpower

5.      Meiden Way Management Specialist

6.      Malorata International Manpower Agency

7.      MGM Worldwide Manpower & General Services

8.      Lizsil International Manpower Agency

9.      RCPA Business Ventures

10.  ERNA Placement Agency

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS IN KUWAIT  HIRING FILIPINOS IN 2003

1.      Fadel Al Sharaf Recruitment Agency

2.      Nourah Nashi Al Mutairy Office

3.      Mohd Abbas Ghuloom Al Sharaf Recruitment Agency

4.      Maasouma Mukhtar Ashkanani Office

5.      First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Company

6.      Adnan Al Ali Office

7.      Fauzia Abdullah Habib

8.      Mahmoud Al Sarraf Office

9.      Abdulaziz Ali Al Office

10.  Sa’dah Zaid Saud Office 

REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EMPLOYMENT VISA

1.      Visa application from the Embassy

2.      One 2x2 picture for application form

3.      Original & Photo copy of passport

4.      Original & Photo copy of visa/NOC

5.      (No Objection Certificate-issued by the Ministry of Interior)

6.      Original & Photo copy of medical certificate (through accredited clinics of embassy              

7.      Original & Photo copy of  NBI

8.      Original Employment Contract

9.      Applicants with Government contract no need for visa stamping at the Kuwait Embassy, a no objection certificate is sufficient 

10.  Applicants with private employers need visa issuance at the Kuwait embassy, an official work permit issued by the Gen. Dept. of Immigration Affairs is needed for the visa issuance

PROCEDURE FOR AGENCY HIRE

1.      Verify with POEA the agency license and  job order 

(Hotline  722-1144 / 55)

2.      Apply & submit credentials to the agency

3.      Undergo Medical Examination with DOH accredited clinics (3 days)  (if selected)

4.      Attend POEA  Supplemental Briefing (1hr) (while waiting for visa)

5.      Attend the PDOS at an accredited PDOS  provider (1 day)

6.      Obtain e-Receipt & e-Card

PROCEDURE FOR NAME HIRE

1.      Apply for visa (2 weeks)      

2.      Submit documents to the Name-Hire Processing Center for evaluation (2 hrs.)

a.  Evaluation Requirements:

b.  Verified Employment Contract

c.  Visa stamped on the  passport

d.  Passport

e.  2 Passport Size Pictures

f.    Payment for Fees

3.      Attend POEA-PDOS(1 day)

4.      Undergo Medical Examination at accredited clinic (3 days)

5.      Pay Necessary Fees at POEA/OWWA cashier

6.      Obtain e-Receipt & e-Card

e-RECEIPT

Exit Permit/Clearance

Proof of payment (POEA Processing Fee, OWWA Membership Contribution & Medicare Coverage)

Travel Tax & Terminal Fee Exemption

e-CARD

Multi-purpose card

Proof of OWWA Membership

ATM card for remittance purpose

WHERE TO OBTAIN VISA

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Shall be effective upon departure from the Philippines.

Minimum period of employment should be 2 yrs.

48 hours workweek

1 day off out of every 7 days work; 14 days paid vacations per year, 21 days after 5 years of service.

Overtime Pay                                     

ordinary day = 125% of basic salary

rest day = 150% of basic salary

holiday = 200% of basic salary

Employer shoulders hospitalization cost including medicines and transports. 

Worker receives regular wage in full during period of treatment not to exceed six (6) months.

During the contract period, the worker should not work or assist in any form in any other related establishment for two years.

The contract shall become void immediately without notice if the work or residence permit was not granted by the Local Authorities

Repatriation of Remains: Worker’s remains and personal belongings shall be repatriated back to the country of origin at the expense of the Employer.

COMMON PROBLEMS

Kuwaitis treat their household workers as slaves

-   Maltreatment and abuses

-   Sexual harassments/abuses and rape cases

Delayed salaries

Unpaid salaries

Contract substitution

Worker forced to work with the extended families of the original employer.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

COUNTRY PROFILE

Location

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Travel time from the Philippines to Kuwait is about 12 hrs. on Gulf Airlines (via Bahrain), Emirates Airlines (via Dubai, UAE), Thai Airways (via Bangkok), and Qatar Airway (via Doha, Qatar).

Kuwait Airlines fly direct from Manila to Kuwait  at least 4x a week

Land Area

17,820 sq. km.

Capital City

Kuwait City

Climate

4 Seasons (winter, spring, summer & fall)

THE KUWAITI PEOPLE

Population

2.1M (July 2002 est.)

Language

ARABIC (official). English is widely understood

Religion

Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims, Christian, Hindu,Parsi

Mode of Dressing

Western Clothing. Women should wear modest swimwear in public beaches.

THE GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMY

The Government 

Nominal Constitutional Monarchy

His Highness Sheikh Jabber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sapah

President

The Economy

Relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves.

Unit of currency: KUWAITI DOLLAR (KWD)

1USD =  .29 KWD

1KWD = 189.73 PHP (as of July 6, 2004) 

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Taxis and buses are available for inland travel

Public Phones, cellular phones and Internet services are very accessible

IDD Country Access Code is 965

Kuwait has no city codes

(Note: International Direct Dialing Codes, must be dialed before the country code & number, depending on where the call is placed)