RIYADH: India imposes SR9,600 as a bank guarantee to be deposited with the Indian Embassy for those who intend to hire a maid from India, said a Saudi investor in the recruitment sector.

Investor Khaled Al-Zahrani said while India “allows us to hire a maid from that country such a condition limits the recruitment of manpower from India.”

Al-Zahrani asked the Ministry of Labor to reject such conditions, noting that such terms are not included in the employment contract.

He pointed out that the guarantee demanded by the Indian Embassy is insurance in case of failure to pay salaries.

Al-Zahrani would like to know the health and mental condition of the maids before their deployment to Saudi Arabia.

“We are waiting for the opening of new markets, such as Ethiopia, and that can ease the restriction on the recruitment market for domestic workers in accordance with the guidelines and conditions, in addition to home training and a medical examination,” he said.

Referring to some of the factors for the delay in the recruitment of domestic workers from the Philippines, he said it is all about the increase in demand.

The Ministry of Labor over the past few days has completed licensing procedures of more than 255 recruitment agencies for domestic labor in different regions, before entering the market in the Kingdom.

The move is aimed at allowing competition in the market and finding various options for recruiting domestic workers.

Sources pointed out that the ministry aims to open new channels in Asian countries to be added to the ten countries that have previously signed with the ministry.

It is part of an effort to meet the growing demand for domestic workers and provide suitable options for those wishing to generate employment.