Indonesian authorities are increasing the cost for the recruitment of women to work as housemaids in the Kingdom from SR8,800 to about SR9,200. The increase is about $100 (SR375). The new cost will take effect from April this year. A member of the National Committee for Recruitment, Hussein Al-Mutairi, said that Indonesian contracting offices had made the request to Saudi authorities for all future contracts. He said the decision does not affect monthly salaries which will remain at SR800. Al-Mutairi said the Indonesian authorities also want all maids to arrive in the Kingdom in 90 days after being contracted, rather than the 30 to 45 days currently. He said the longer period was required because of the training courses that housemaids will have to undergo before heading to the Kingdom. Another new requirement is that all transactions must be certified by the Indonesian embassy in Riyadh. “Unattested transactions will be dismissed,” he said. Al-Mutairi called on citizens to “understand” if there is any delay in the arrival of housemaids. “National offices have reservations about the decision,” he said, adding that measures are underway to find women in other countries who can work as housemaids in the Kingdom. Tajikistani workers are expected to formally enter the Saudi market in two months time if negotiations are successful, he said. The cost of employing a Tajikistan domestic worker will be about SR5,000 at a monthly salary of SR600.
