Maids Charge Up to SR5,000 Per Month in Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH: Despite hefty penalties and fines, brokers in Saudi Arabia are exploiting Ramadan to peddle domestics for higher prices that can go up to SR5,000 (approximately PhP61,750).

Recruitment offices were quoted as saying by Arab News that this is a black market practice as these domestic helpers have no permits but the demand for their services increases causing prices to shoot up.

That means more activity for illegal recruiters, who exploit the situation, helped by counterparts in Indonesia and the Philippines, which delay recruitment for legit domestic helpers, the report said.

Social media websites are reportedly rife with ads for maids at almost any price and without restrictions and with negotiable wages.

“Many housewives are renting domestic help for any price mainly because of the complicated recruitment procedure and the high cost,” Umm Bader, a housewife, was quoted as saying by the news portal.

“The brokers do the rounds long before Ramadan and start offering maids,” Umm Mohammad reportedly said.

To Umm Abdulaziz Hassan, maids working for SR25 an hour is a good solution but this may be too much for low-budget families, reported Arab News.

A mother of two, she draws SR6,000 a month. She said the monthly wage of an Asian maid is between SR1,700 and SR2,500.

(Source: FilipinoTimes.ae)