Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed a committee in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labor to address the issues related to the recruitment of domestic workers. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Media Director Ambassador Osama Nugali said the ministry decided to form the committee after citizens lodged several complaints of exploitation and fraud. "The ministry aims to protect the rights of citizens. We received several complaints of exploitation and fraud by brokers in domestic worker recruitment," said Nugali. He added the ministry receives three complaints a month. "The ministry forwards the complaints on expatriates recruitment to the Ministry of Labor as it is the pertinent authority. However, the ministry saw that there was a need to form a committee among the three ministries as some complaints concern complicated issues," said Nugali. He said the Ministry of Labor handles issues involving Saudi parties. "If a citizen has a contract with a recruitment office in Saudi Arabia to hire from foreign recruitment offices on his behalf, then the case is forwarded to the Ministry of Labor. The dispute is simply between the Saudi recruitment office and the citizen," said Nugali. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs deals with cases involving Saudi and non-Saudi parties. "If a citizen has a contract with a recruitment office abroad directly without any Saudi authority representing him, then the case is dealt with the Saudi mission in the country where the concerned recruitment office is located," said Nugali. He added that such cases usually take a lot of time and effort. King Abdulaziz University Law Professor Omar Al-Khouli said citizens should be aware of the offers given by brokers of domestic workers recruitment. "Citizens should do their research about the broker before entering into any deal," said Al-Khouli. He said that citizens must report any issues of exploitation or scams to the authorities.
