SAUDI GAZETTE JEDDAH — Indonesian domestic workers are interested in coming to the Kingdom under the sponsorship of recruitment offices instead of Saudi families, Saudi Consul in Jakarta Turki Al-Waeli was quoted as saying in Makkah Arabic daily on Wednesday. He said the Indonesian Workers Union took this decision after studying the new regulations of the Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development which ensure increased benefits, better facilities and higher bank guarantees for workers under the sponsorship of recruitment offices. The Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development announced on Monday that is willing to to again start the recruitment of domestic workers from Indonesia. The Indonesian Workers Union is apprehensive about opening the door for family sponsorship, said Al-Waeli. He said the demand for Indonesian domestic workers in the Kingdom is high. Last year, 8,500 work visas were issued for Indonesian workers in less than eight months. This year, 1,500 visas have already been issued for Indonesian workers, said Al-Waeli, adding that the number is expected to increase by 40 percent. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development has increased the benefits and facilitated the hiring process under the sponsorship of recruitment companies by ensuring proper accommodation, increased bank insurance, etc. Workers hired under the sponsorship of recruitment companies are not obliged to sleep in the house of Saudi families as they will have their own accommodation provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Recruitment offices can hire a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 200 workers, said Al-Waeli. The recruitment fee for this type of worker is SR5,000. The recruitment office must have a bank guarantee of SR750,000. Meanwhile, answering a Saudi Gazette question whether or not Indonesia will allow its domestic workers to come to Saudi Arabia, Dede Achman Rifai, head of the Consulate Affairs at the Indonesian consulate, replied: "No" without providing any further details. However, Yahya Al-Mugbil, head of the recruitment offices at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the approval of the ministerial decision is a positive move Last May, Indonesia decided to ban its citizens from working as domestic helpers in 21 countries. Indonesian President Joko Widodo foreshadowed the move in February 2015 by announcing that he wanted to put an end to the export of female workers.
