JEDDAH — Saudi giant manpower recruitment companies, which have been established with huge capitals to end the problem of foreign manpower recruitment, too have failed to bring in housemaids. Quoting an informed source, Makkah Arabic daily said on Monday that a number of manpower exporting companies in various foreign countries have refused to directly deal with these recruitment companies. The source said Philippines and Ethiopia have both refused to deal directly with the recruitment companies despite the incentives they offer to housemaids. "The involvement of the companies in the recruitment of housemaids is economically not feasible and has not been successful," he said. The source said the Ministry of Labor made it a condition on the companies that housemaids should constitute 20 percent of their total recruits. "The companies are unable to meet this condition as many countries have either stopped sending their manpower outside or refused to deal directly with them," he said. Majed Al-Haqqas, spokesman of recruitment offices, said the companies are well aware that their work in the housemaids' market is futile and costly. "The companies will have to pay high salaries and provide housemaids with accommodation and health insurance which is costly for them," he said. He warned customers that recruitment of housemaids through the companies may go as high as SR30,000.
