RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has instructed all firms that provide brokerage services in recruiting domestic workers not to exceed the cost of hiring Sri Lankan domestic workers over the approved maximum rate of SR15,000. The Ministry has set the upper limit for the recruitment of domestic workers at SR15,000, without including the value-added tax (VAT). The decision is part of the Ministry's keenness on monitoring recruitment cost in the labor market in a way that guarantees the quality of provided services. In September 2022, the Ministry issued a directive that the licensed companies and agencies must oblige to the upper limit of the recruitment cost of domestic workers from various nationalities. It has spelled out that the upper limit for recruiting domestic workers from Uganda stood at SR9,500; Thailand SR10,000; Kenya SR10,870; Bangladesh SR13,000; the Philippines SR17,288, and these costs do not include VAT. The Ministry urged all to abide by not exceeding the declared price cap so as to avoid the penalties for the violation of the recruitment rates. The Ministry will follow up on the implementation of this decision through the Musaned platform. This decision is part of the Ministry's endeavors to improve the quality of services and the labor market environment and enhance its attractiveness, keeping pace with the standard of the global labor markets.
