“After a meeting in Manila two weeks back, the POEA announced its governing board would study and meet to discuss the proposals of the Saudi National Recruitment Committee (SANARCOM) to resolve the Saudi ban on the hiring of new Filipino housemaids,” John Leonard Monterona, Migrante Middle East regional coordinator, told Arab News on Thursday.

Quoting Labor Attache Albert Q. Valenciano of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Riyadh (POLO-Riyadh), who attended the meeting two weeks ago, he said that the Kingdom stood by its opposition to the demands of the POEA, which is under the Department of Labor and Employment.

“The Saudi government stood by its opposition to the Philippine demands and through SANARCOM representatives, who stayed in Manila for two weeks, it offered a new package of proposals to be studied by the POEA governing board,” Monterona said.

He added that in general, the Kingdom proposed to set up mega recruitment firms that would act as general services companies in recruiting and bringing in foreign workers, including housemaids and family drivers, from manpower exporting countries like the Philippines.

He added that these Saudi-based recruitment companies will be accredited by the various labor offices such as the POLO in Riyadh, Jeddah and Eastern Province before they could hire housemaids or family drivers from the Philippines.

However, the POEA stood pat on its demands which it considers fair  in the recruitment of Filipino housemaids, Monterona said. Aside from the $400 minimum wage requirement, the POEA also requires the submission of residence location map by prospective Saudi employers, opening a bank account for the housemaid where her salary would be deposited, proof of the employer's salary from SR6,000-8,000 a month and an additional monthly compensation of $100 for working on Fridays when they are supposed to be on day off.

“I think the POEA demands are fair. Filipino housemaids are known to be caring, have facility with the English language, hardworking, reliable and trustworthy,” Monterona said.