News reports say that Saudi Arabia has not approved of the rules that require the verification of contracts of maids sent to the Kingdom. The reports have led maids currently in the Kingdom to demand higher wages from their employers, arguing that no more maids from the Philippines are coming to Saudi Arabia.

Maid-recruitment offices say it’s going to be a very long process to recruit a housemaid from the Philippines because of the new requirements and the employees' requests.

“When we apply to bring new maids from the Philippines we usually get a list of demands, too. Maids ask about the houses they will be working in, the size of the house, the number of people in the home, the kind of job they will be offered and, above all, the amount of salary they are going to get paid,” said Abu Saleh, a recruitment office manager in Riyadh. “Some of them also ask for health insurance, a mobile phone and a weekend holiday, which is unusual for maids in Saudi Arabia. This process can take up to three weeks if not more for all the paperwork to be done and until the maid is finally here to proceed with her work.”

Housemaids from the Philippines are demanding an increase in salaries after hearing the news.

“My maid told me that there are no longer recruitment of Filipino maids, therefore she made me choose between giving her more money or letting her go,” said Ibtisam Shalaby, a 53-year-old housewife. “Of course, I chose to give her an increase because it’s really hard to get a new housemaid and train her in this country.”

But according to Abu Ahmad, an employee at a local recruitment office, the demand for a salary raise is only from Filipino maids who live and work illegally in the country, as maids working legally already have agreed-upon contracts.

“We cannot control or make illegal workers sign agreements with employers on fixed salaries,” Abu Ahmad said. “Those housemaids who work with no iqama (work/residency permit) make their demands according to their whims.”

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay visited the Kingdom last week and discussed recruitment issues with Saudi officials. The Kingdom's rejection of the requirements has meant that no new contracts could be processed.

Binay said the Kingdom objected in particular to a requirement that prospective Saudi employers provide a sketch and photograph of their houses. Another rule being objected to, he said, was the imposition of a $400 minimum monthly salary.