Saudis who want to privately recruit housemaids and drivers may still do so, despite the establishment of new recruitment companies, local Arabic daily Al-Madinah reported Wednesday quoting Abdullah Al-Alyani, director of the recruitment office in Jeddah.
"The establishment of these companies does not represent an obstacle for individuals. They can directly apply at the recruitment office for the import of housemaids and drivers, after they have completed all the required documents," he said.
Al-Alyani denied that the establishment of the recruitment companies would diminish the role of government recruitment offices handling applications from Saudis who want to directly recruit housemaids and drivers.
"The offices will continue their duties as before," Al-Alyani said.
Committee member Ali Al-Qurashi of the recruitment offices in Jeddah’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the cost of importing domestic workers through the recruitment companies would be determined according to the nationality of the housemaid or driver and their country of origin.
Out of the five recruitment companies that are being established in the Kingdom, three have obtained work permits and two have had their trade registrations issued.
According to market sources, the recruitment cost of foreign manpower adds up to around SR 14,000.
