RIYADH, 28 April 2008 — The Shoura Council yesterday voted in favor to study a proposal suggesting the government cut recruitment and iqama charges for house servants to SR500 and SR100 respectively to ease the financial burden on Saudi families.
However, the majority vote did not come without a debate.
Members who oppose the idea believe it will have a negative effect on Saudi society, leading to more foreign laborers coming to Saudi homes, which already have full-time drivers and housemaids.
They also said the initiative would, in the long run, affect the Kingdom’s culture.
One Shoura member urged the council to wait for other related regulations, concerning recruitment and manpower, to be completed before approving the initiative.
On the other hand, members who supported the study said cutting fees would ease the financial burden on middle-class and low-income Saudi families.
They also called for the unification of recruitment fees, as well as the stabilization of charges in order to stop hikes by private recruitment agencies.
The council approved a study of the proposal, which was made by Shoura members Dr. Abdullah Al-Dosari and Muhammad Al-Quwaihas, by a majority vote.
