Agency to provide maids on annual contracts

The Saudi Manpower Solutions Company (SMASCO) will hire housemaids on yearly contracts ranging between SR31,000 and SR35,000 that will include government fees, flight tickets and end-of-service benefits, but not meals and lodging.
An official, who requested anonymity, said that any citizen will be able to hire the worker the same day or within five days of signing the contract. The company would guarantee replacement of the worker in cases of refusal to work, escape, illness or death.
The official said that the company would sponsor the worker and that those interested could apply through the company’s website. He also said that the company had already recruited thousands of workers. It has a 24-hour online complaints site, which clients can use during the period of the contract.
SMASCO announced that it would launch the “Raha” service that provides domestic and other workers on an hourly basis.
“The company has recruited 6,000 male and female workers from India, the Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam who are working in different sectors,” the official said. He added that the list of banned foreign agencies is constantly updated and warned local recruitment agencies against dealing with foreign counterparts without their governments’ permits.