The Saudi ministry of Labour has given the go-ahead for issuing 1.2 million visas for workers. Six recruitment companies have been given the task to help hire housemaids, labourers, drivers and other workers for occupations needed in the Saudi market.
According to a report in the Saudi Gazette, these visas include the countries from which recruitment of workers is allowed - Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Morocco, Tanzania, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Mauritania.
The report quoted a source saying," The source disclosed that the number of applications from citizens for the recruitment of domestic workers has exceeded two million. They focused on India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam."
The six recruitment companies will recruit domestic workers under their sponsorship and will bear the fees for medical insurance. They will then rent the workers to citizens under annual contracts of SR 24,000 for each year that can be renewed according to agreement between the two parties. The contract fee decreases after the first year.
Recruitment from Bangladesh continues, pact with Nepal soon.