Saudi sets min wage for domestic workers

Saudi Arabia has set a minimum wage of SAR600-800 (US$160-213) for foreign domestic workers in the Gulf state. Officials in the GCC’s largest country set the cost of recruitment fees at SAR15,000 - 17,000, local media reported citing Saad Al-Badah, chairman of the national recruitment committee at the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Recruitment fees will be inclusive of visa costs, two-year medical insurance, a one-way ticket, residence permit fees for two years and a medical checkup, said Al-Badah, adding that he expected the move to reduce the number of runaway cases amongst domestic workers by 80 percent. Saudi Arabia, like much of the Gulf region, depends on foreign workers to fill jobs at all levels of the economy. The Gulf state is home to around 8m foreign workers. Source: By Claire Valdini Sunday, 1 April 2012 12:39 PM http://www.arabianbusiness.com/saudi-sets-min-wage-for-domestic-workers-452156.html