Saudi to turn to India and Sri Lanka for maids

28 August 2013 05:28 am - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Saudi Arabia is considering turning to India and Sri Lanka to meet soaring local demand for domestic workers following labour disputes with the Philippines and Indonesia and a decision to suspend hiring maids from Ethiopia.

Indonesia and the Philippines, among the largest maid supplier to the Middle East, have temporarily halted the travel of their domestic workers to Saudi Arabia following disputes over payment, mistreatment of maids by employers and other issues.

Several rounds of negotiations have so far failed to break the deadlock despite concessions by the Gulf Kingdom, including higher salaries for maids.

Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy and the world’s top oil exporter, banned the recruitment of Ethiopian housemaids last month following a series of deadly attacks by those maids on their employers.

One maid who killed a little Syrian girl told police she had committed the crime because she “was told so by an occult power.”

“There is a shortage of around 30 per cent in the supply of foreign domestic workers to Saudi Arabia because of the suspension of the recruitment of housemaids from Ethiopia and other countries,” said Mutlaq Al Hazmi, a member of the expatriate labour hiring committee at the Jeddah chamber of commerce and industry.

“There are plans to open the door for hiring domestic workers from India and Sri Lanka. I believe that this will make hiring maids from Indonesia unnecessary,” he was quoted as saying by Saudi newspapers on Wednesday.

Nearly two million housemaids from Asia and Africa work in Saudi Arabia, the largest base for expatriate domestic workers in the Middle East. (Source: Emirates 24/7)

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Comments - 22

mahinda attanayaka Wednesday, 28 August 2013 09:18 AM

sri lankan women not should be going to Saudi. they do not know how to treat the human.
But fairness other Arab wold the Qatari they will treat well.
the Qatari they will treat well.

sss Friday, 30 August 2013 04:15 AM

yes dollars are needed fir dutyfree imports for good for nothing politicos and professionals

Gamini Thursday, 29 August 2013 07:15 AM

If the Saudis are in need of household help they should learn to treat ex-pat workers with respect. The primitive attitude of the Saudis towards Asians is simply disgusting.

xlntgson Thursday, 29 August 2013 06:34 AM

Dollar economy pushes nations to send anything that has $value if curbed, rupee falls, exporters cry! Gold standard dream, chain snatchers galore!

jamal Thursday, 29 August 2013 05:45 AM

Sri Lanka must not encourage maids to take up jobs as long as this country is in the clutchesof vahabism ,a barbaric belief of the first order.

jamal Thursday, 29 August 2013 05:34 AM

Sri Lanka should not encourage maid especially uneducated to take up jobs in KSA as long as this country is under wahabism , abrabaric form of government

mercy Wednesday, 28 August 2013 02:42 PM

Under any circumstances even for good Saudi families no maids please. Tell them Married couples yes

Sonali De Silva Wednesday, 28 August 2013 01:58 PM

When a country like Ethiopia stops sending maids it says a lot about SA. But we will keep on sending no matter what. Who gives a damn about the poor when dollars are flowing in.

samanala Wednesday, 28 August 2013 12:56 PM

Don't send our Women to Saudi Arabia. Saudis we don't have nannies or sex workers for you. we hate this request.

Grace Wednesday, 28 August 2013 12:31 PM

If you want Houseboys, we can send our politicians.

Rikaz Wednesday, 28 August 2013 09:47 AM

DO NOT send any Lankan maids there.

Ranjith Silvar Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:02 AM

Even at 10 times the salary, DO NOT send female to Saudi.

Laminate Wednesday, 28 August 2013 08:51 AM

Our people must go to halaal nation to survive otherwise this country become Somalia..........

Herculese Wednesday, 28 August 2013 08:43 AM

Where is Sri Lankan's Abhimanaya?

ANTON Wednesday, 28 August 2013 07:35 AM

WELL DONE PHILIPPINE AND INDONESIA.

Sim Wednesday, 28 August 2013 07:25 AM

Sending our women to the gallows

PRASANNAJIT Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:37 AM

Oh, yes we have ample for export market. We are not worried about any mistreatment.

fact Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:30 AM

BBS, its up for you to stop our maids going to the "Halaaaal" nation...

fact Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:29 AM

Well, well, well... lets see how BBS would deal with this...

Neutral thinker Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:29 AM

So, are we going to sell our maids for cheaper price?

Laminate Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:24 AM

Ane, we are ready to wash your pots and pans..........

Boobamba Wednesday, 28 August 2013 06:03 AM

Obviously 'cos of cheap labour!!!!

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Saudi to turn to India and Sri Lanka for maids

Comments - 22

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