The estimated 600,000 maids working in Kuwait should be reduced to improve monitoring of employers and their employees, the Kuwait Times reported Monday (February 8th). There are too many domestic helpers, possibly having been trafficked into Kuwait, said Kamal al-Awadhi, the director of the immigration directorate. The directorate is considering measures that would require criminal background checks for a maid to obtain a residence visa as well as a shareholding company for labourers.