Only one union is permitted per industry or profession, and only one labor federation, the pro-government Kuwaiti Trade Union Federation, exists. Workers may strike, but no law protects them from resulting legal or administrative action. Foreigners must have five years residence in Kuwait before joining labor unions. Roughly 100,000 foreigners who work as domestic servants are not protected under the labor law and are vulnerable to sexual and physical abuse by employers. A Kuwaiti couple was arrested in August for allegedly beating their Sri Lankan maid to death.
Many employers control their servants by holding their passports.