JEDDAH, 19 November 2005 — The new recruitment law for household services, which was approved by the Ministry of Labor recently, evoked mixed reactions. There are some who believe the new law is a bold and timely step and was effective in reducing recruitment of household labor by 20 percent from last year, according to Al-Madinah newspaper.
Observers say establishing a direct link between recruiting household labor with family income will ensure that housemaids receive their salaries on time. It will also prevent families from employing more maids than they need. However, recruitment office owners perceive the new law as a threat as it limits their activities by introducing more obstacles in their way.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Zobi, a social researcher, has identified a trend that sees more and more Saudi families recruiting maids and drivers in an attempt to emulate rich families and thereby gain social respect even though they do not actually need them. He said many female students go to school and university accompanied by maids who carry their books and abaya.
“Hiring maids and drivers is not easy for middle income families because of the scarcity of jobs and low salaries,” Al-Zobi said. “How could a young man starting his life with SR2,500 or SR3,000 a month afford a maid or a driver? This will add pressure on the family.”
Al-Zobi said leaving children to the care of maids will reflect negatively on families.
Labor recruitment offices did not welcome the decision. They argue that the decision prevents a large segment of society from recruiting maids, thus curtail their source of income. The new law confines the recruitment of maids and drivers to 10 percent of society, some of them said.
The decision will drive many offices out of business. Employees forced out of work will have to go to the Labor Ministry for compensation, the manager of a recruitment office in Jeddah said on condition of anonymity.
A statement by the deputy labor minister alluded to a proposed plan to merge 370 offices into three joint stock companies.
Locals, however, were divided in their opinion. Ali Al-Mutairi said, “I do not have a maid. There are many families that tend to recruit maids and drivers that they do not need. I know of some families that have more than one maid even though they have no children and the women do not work. What is the maid for then?”
Other families beg to differ. They say maids are important even to middle income households.
“I cannot leave my son alone at home when his mother and I go to work. The maid is important; she looks after my child when we are gone. I think the decision would be an injustice to many middle income families,” said Hasan Naser, a middle-income parent.
