JEDDAH: An Indonesian official denied rumors that Indonesian workers who enjoyed vacations in Indonesia have been banned on traveling back to their sponsors in the Kingdom, or are having their procedures delayed.

He said the decision to temporarily stop sending household workers to the Kingdom does not apply to traditional countries for drivers or housemaids.

The decision to stop sending workers to the Kingdom is due to differences among the private sector in both countries about new employment contracts, specifically between the Indonesian Labor Union and the National Commission for Recruitment.

The negotiations first began about measures to protect workers and their rights, but have since expanded to wider negotiations about benefits.

The Indonesian side is calling for a basic salary of SR1,500, a six-hour work per day, a weekly day off to be compensated in the amount of SR 100, or SR 6 per hour, and that dealings are between one Indonesian company and several Saudi recruitment companies. Recruitment offices should be excluded entirely in order to prevent abuse by brokers.

However, the Saudi employer is still holding on to its offer, which includes a basic salary of between SR 1,000 and SR 1,500, a continued role for private recruitment offices in order to prevent higher costs and delays, and putting in place measures that limit the entry of brokers.

According to the source, the Saudi side has insisted on provisions that protect the rights of both the worker and employer, where the employee would be responsible for compensating the employer should he or she escape and breach the contract.

The decision to resume sending workers to the Kingdom is currently awaiting Indonesian government approval, said the source, as the terms have been presented to a religious commission for its feedback on sending women to work abroad without a male guardian or approval from their husbands, and leaving their children in the care of their mothers and husbands.

According to a source at the National Commission for Recruitment, the results of the stalled negotiations with Indonesia had been submitted to the Minister of Labor, and the Commission called for the halting of issuance of visas for Indonesian workers after both sides could not agree on terms.

“The Ministry stopped recruitment at the time and returned to negotiations to reduce the basic salary to SR 1,500 with SR 50 as weekly allowance and food free of charge, which can be compensated at a rate of SR 300 per month should the worker reject the family’s food.”

He said the commission is keen on ensuring exporting countries do not exploit the needs by Saudi families for household workers to impose high salaries.