The Sri Lankan Ministry of Labor has rejected a memorandum of understanding (MoU) seeking to streamline the recruitment process from Sri Lanka. The MoU also envisaged measures to fix recruitment charges and to organize the process so as to effectively check malpractices. The MoU, which was to be implemented on Sept.10, was signed between the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry's National Recruitment Committee and the Sri Lankan Labor Union (ALFIA). The Sri Lankan Ministry of Labor has reportedly backtracked on the pretext that the MoU will deprive the Lankan economy of an additional income of over $50 million. According to sources in the National Recruitment Committee, a request will be forwarded to the relevant authorities to stop recruitment from Sri Lanka if the Lankan authorities refuse to implement the MoU. The MoU signed with ALFIA fixes recruitment charges for Sri Lankan maids at SR5,500 whether Muslim or non-Muslim and SR2,500 for drivers plus visa issuance charges and transportation charges if the arrival station is outside Riyadh or Dammam.
