Okaz/Saudi Gazette DAMMAM — Around 700 Saudi recruitment offices have objected to some provisions in the uniform contract for the recruitment of domestic workers, approved by Minister of Labor and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi. In a letter addressed to the minister, a copy of which was obtained by Okaz/Saudi Gazette, they demanded a review in the minister's decision by holding deliberations about the observations made against some provisions of the contract. They also warned against adverse economic effects of the decision on citizens and investors engaged in the recruitment activities. "We came to know about your decision to approve the uniform contract of middlemen services for the recruitment of domestic workers without having necessary discussions with the private sector as well as with individuals and entities concerned with it," they said in the letter. There is a provision in the contract that the recruitment offices have to pay a fine of 30 percent in the event of any delay in the arrival of domestic workers after the set period of 90 days. According to the recruitment offices, the percentage of domestic workers arriving after the deadline ranges between 15 and 20 and this attributed to several factors that are beyond their control. These factors include technical problems, refusal of workers for travel, delivery cases of maidservants, and temporary suspension of travel by the concerned authorities of countries that are sending domestic help. The recruitment offices also pointed out several other discrepancies in the uniform contract and that would adversely affect them while going ahead with their recruitment activities.
