From Kuwait Times: Cost of hiring maids rises sharply

The cost of hiring servants has risen sharply in recent months, leaving many residents of Kuwait, particularly expatriates, unable to afford household help. Many in Kuwait still see a maid as a necessity rather than a luxury, however, and are willing to pay the going rate in order to retain a servant. In some cases, the cost of initially hiring a maid has now reached KD750 for the recruitment agency alone before visa and salary costs are taken into consideration.

Employers are liable to pay their domestic workers' residency fees, with the charges for a Kuwaiti or an expatriate sponsor differing vastly. “While the [Kuwaiti] citizen pays KD20 for a maid's two-year visa, as an expat I have to pay KD200 for the same period,” said Mohammed, a disgruntled expatriate father of four.

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