" Financial constraints fueling informal women’s labour migration to Kuwait", 2 August 2026

Nearly 69,000 Nepalis are employed as domestic workers in Kuwait despite a government ban on sending workers for such jobs, proof that Nepal’s migration policy is increasingly out of step with the economic realities driving women to seek work abroad…

In a report submitted to the foreign and labour ministries, the task force said preventing unskilled or economically vulnerable people from taking up domestic work abroad had diverted them towards networks that arrange travel through visit visas.

The report said most domestic workers come from economically disadvantaged families and include many single mothers. It identified Jhapa, Sindhupalchok, Makawanpur, Morang, Kathmandu, Kavre, Ilam, Nuwakot, Sunsari and Chitwan as major districts of origin.

The report concluded that the ban had increased workers’ vulnerability by limiting their access to social security, emergency assistance and legal protection.

Former Nepali ambassador to Kuwait Madhuban Paudel said the government’s approach had failed to address the underlying challenges faced by domestic workers.

…, Foreign Secretary Amrit Kumar Rai informed parliament’s Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Interest Committee that large numbers of Nepali women continue to reach Gulf countries as domestic workers through informal channels despite the existing restrictions.

Nepal has attempted to address the issue by negotiating a bilateral labour agreement with Kuwait that would establish a regulated pathway for domestic workers.

…, the parliamentary committee issued a seven-point directive requiring destination countries to provide separate legal protections for domestic workers.

The conditions include guarantees on minimum wages, weekly and annual leave, social security, occupational safety, 24-hour insurance coverage, overtime payments, dispute resolution mechanisms, pre-departure and post-arrival training, protection against discrimination and strict penalties for abuse by employers.

Nepal has shared draft agreements based on these requirements with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. However, foreign ministry officials say destination countries have shown limited urgency in signing binding agreements as recruitment networks continue supplying workers through informal channels. ..