The Indonesian government wants Saudi sponsors to pay its housemaids salaries equal to those of Filipino workers, which range from SR1,200 to SR1,500 a month, a source said here recently.

Sponsors in several Gulf Cooperation Council countries currently pay their housemaids under SR800 a month.

The source said the national committee for recruitment at the Council of Saudi Chambers stated recently that Saudi sponsors are currently committed to paying the basics for Indonesian maids including their salaries, insurance and tickets.

The source said the committee praised Labor Minister Adel Fakeih for recently signing labor agreements with the Sri Lankan and Indian governments, which means Saudi families have various recruitment options.

He said the Indonesian ban on sending housemaids to the Kingdom had affected that country’s economy, including the aviation industry and food exports. He said many shops in the Kingdom selling Indonesian food and other items have closed down.

Earlier, Ahmad Al-Fuhaid, deputy minister for international affairs, said that Saudi Arabia does not plan to raise the salaries of housemaids.