‘Affordable’ Bangladeshi maids top choice in KSA

Saudi families intending to recruit maids have shifted their focus to Bangladesh as the Asian country offers adequate numbers of trained laborers at lower wages compared to the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
“Most Saudis have shown interest in recruiting maids from Bangladesh,” said Hamid Al-Balehshi, chairman of the recruitment committee at the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said Saudi authorities have set up 94 offices in Bangladesh to facilitate the recruitment procedure. “Two to three representatives have been appointed in every office in Bangladesh to expedite the process.”
Many Saudi families are not interested in recruiting maids from the Philippines and Sri Lanka because of a huge difference in wages.
Market analysts said there are at least eight main reasons for giving priority to Bangladeshi maids.
“Bangladesh provides their maids enough training before sending them to the Kingdom. They have brought down the recruitment cost to SR8,000 and monthly salary to SR800,” said one analyst.
On the other hand, recruitment from the Philippines and Sri Lanka would cost SR16,000 and SR20,000 respectively.
“All the applications we have received this week are for maids from Bangladesh,” said Al-Balehshi.
“We have insisted that Bangladesh train the workers before sending them to the Kingdom,” he added.