Saudi Arabia and India are scheduled to sign an agreement on domestic workers, which will provide protection to both workers and employers in Saudi Arabia, a senior diplomat from the Indian Embassy told Arab News yesterday.

Sibi George, deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy here, said until now domestic aides — mainly drivers, housemaids and farm workers — were not covered by local labor regulations. “We want our workers to be governed by the Saudi labor laws so they will enjoy the privileges and rights granted under the local regulations,” George said.

He said the draft agreement, dubbed “Labor agreement for domestic service workers,” has been initialed by senior officials of the two countries and the final agreement will be signed by the two governments shortly.

“A joint committee will be established to look after the progress of the agreement from both sides,” he said.

There are some 500,000 domestic workers deployed in the Kingdom.

The official pointed out that the proposed agreement clearly indicates the salaries of domestic workers, their working hours, annual leave and other perks such as accommodation, medical facilities supported by a work contract.

As for female domestic aides, George said there is a negligible number in the Kingdom, but India would consider sending housemaids provided the recruitment procedures fulfill the requirements of the agreement.

George said his mission hopes to complete the paperwork by June 20, much ahead of the deadline given under the amnesty.

“We would undertake EC verification and distribution tours to different parts of the Kingdom beginning June 14,” he said, pointing out that those cities include Al-Hassa, Al-Kharj, Hafr Al- Baten, Jubail, Al-Khafji, Al-Qassim, Hail, Wadi Al-Dawasir and Dawadmi.

An updated list of EC applications received from volunteers is uploaded on the Embassy website. Applicants are advised to contact the volunteers to whom they have submitted their EC application form for necessary advice and to fill out fee waiver forms, the official said.