Hamdan Al-Harbi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The first group of Ethiopian housemaids has arrived in the Kingdom, according to officials at one of the 13 companies licensed to recruit foreign manpower. The Saudi Company for Recruitment has started handing over the first batch of maids to citizens who had submitted their applications electronically. Company officials told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the Ethiopian housemaids could now be hired at a monthly salary of SR1480 without any additional costs to the employer, such as the Iqama fee and air ticket for repatriation after the contract period. The company will guarantee the performance of the maid, but the employer will have to regularly pay her monthly salary. The company will bear the cost of medical insurance for workers and will provide replacements in case the maid escapes or refuses to work. The company officials said the maids' salaries were fixed based on recruitment costs, nationality and profession. Other factors that determine the salary include guarantees, training and the worker's level of education. Officials at other licensed recruitment companies said they had obtained open work visas for all labor exporting countries except those currently on a list of banned countries.
