PRESS reports have said the Labor Ministry is studying prospects of allowing recruitment firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to export domestic helps to Saudi Arabia. It seems that the ministry has admitted its failure 10 years after the appearance of a black market inside the country for domestic servants. As a result it is now studying the possibility of opening branches of GCC recruitment firms in the Kingdom to promote fair competition among them. The ministry believes that the move would help solve the protracted problem facing Saudi citizens to recruit domestic helps at a reasonable price. I have three questions in my mind. First, when will this study end? This is a question that arises in the minds of every reader of this report. The Labor Ministry is known for conducting endless studies to the extent that it has become the ministry for labor studies and research. Even after all these studies nothing will happen and most people will not know their results. Even if they had good results what is the use if they are not implemented quickly. Non-availability of domestic helps has been a major problem for Saudis for the past many years. This led to the emergence of a black market for housemaids and other domestic workers in the Kingdom. The cost of getting a single Filipino or Indonesian maid has reached SR40,000 in Saudi Arabia. The same amount is enough in other GCC nationals to receive five maids. The second question is why didn't the ministry this possibility earlier. Were they waiting for somebody to remind them about this possibility? Was this study started after Saudis signing contracts with recruitment firms in Bahrain and Qatar to get maids quickly and at cheaper rates? It seems that the ministry would continue this study without taking a quick decision. The last and final question is whether we have the right to allow or not allow GCC firms to operate their branches in the Kingdom. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the World Trade Organization, GCC investors should be allowed to invest and open branches of their companies in Saudi Arabia. According to WTO regulations, the GCC firms will have rights equal to those of Saudi firms on the basis of the free market system, especially when their activities do not contradict with our rules and systems and do not clash with our customs and traditions. Being a WTO member means non-recognition of these conditions and traditions. I believe that the Ministry of Labor has totally failed in resolving the shortage of domestic helps by facilitating their recruitment. It has been making unsuccessful efforts to resolve the issue in the past. When the ministry tries to recruit domestic workers from countries that do not meet Saudi families' needs, Saudis go to neighboring Gulf countries to get housemaids and drivers.
