In the wake of a hike in the cost of recruitment from Indonesia, the National Committee for Recruitment at the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, has left for Cambodia to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to hire domestic workers from that country. It is also plans to sign another MoU in this regard with the Ivory Coast. Saad Al-Baddah, Chairman of the National Committee for Recruitment, added that the committee has received an invitation from Mali for a visit yet to be determined. This is also to discuss recruitment of workers, especially house helpers. He said there was no reason for the increase in recruitment fees from Indonesia. He accused brokers, who bring laborers to the Indonesian recruitment agents, of raising prices. Al-Baddah also wondered why the Indonesian authorities have not intervened to rein in brokers, who are now charging Indonesian recruitment agents $100 for each worker they introduce. He said the committee will hold discussions with the Indonesian agents to set up a unified company, to be named the Indonesian Company for Manpower Training. This company would then negotiate a lump sum with brokers for the introduction to willing workers. Al-Baddah stressed that 98 percent of Saudi recruitment offices do not want to deal with Indonesian agents if they refuse to place a ceiling on their service fees. He said there are many other countries where workers can be recruited.
