Demand for Asian maids in the Kingdom is surging due to the shortage that resulted from the departure of many Asian expatriates in the aftermath of the raids.

The rising demand for maids is expected to hike the costs of recruitment, with many Asian workers demanding salaries no less than SR1600 per month.

Residents are feeling the pinch when it comes to hiring full-time help and are facing difficulties negotiating with Asian workers.

Many families need to hire full-time help because both parents work and are unable to manage the housework, which prompts them to accept the higher salaries demanded by housekeepers.

Ghada Bassam, a working mother, said “Previously maids from Indonesia and Philippines were paid between SR 800-1200, however after the recent raids, salaries have spiked.

We agreed to pay our maid the salary she demanded, since it is hard to find help these days.”

Mohammed Haroon, another resident, said “Our maid left in Dec. after having been with us for nearly five years and we gave her only SR1000. The new maid we hired through an agency is being paid double the amount.”

With the decline in the number of illegal maids, residents have resorted to maid recruitment agencies, which usually charge higher fares.

“Getting maids directly was much easier than hiring through agencies, as it would save us the agency’s commission and other charges. Since there is no chance of concessions, we agreed to pay the fee charged by the agency,” said Sohaila Ahmed, a Riyadh resident.

“Maids are asking for higher salaries because they know there is a shortage of domestic workers in the country and are taking advantage of the situation,” complained Saher Fatima.

According to the residents, there is enormous demand for maids and the government should consider recruiting housemaids from many Asian countries.