Saudi Arabia denies lifting ban on Filipino maids

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Labour on Wednesday denied media reports that it was set to life a ban on recruiting domestic workers from the Philippines and Indonesia.Despite reports indicating that a compromise deal had been struck, a ministry spokesman told state news agency SPA that the suspension was still in place.Saudi Arabia said in June it had decided to stop issuing work visas to bring domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Hattab bin Saleh Al-Anzi denied reports circulating over the past few days claiming the suspension would end on September 12.Al-Anzi added that any developments on the recruitment subject would be officially announced by the Ministry of Labour. Reports in Manila earlier this week said Saudi Arabia was ready to reopen its doors to Filipino domestic helpers after it reached a compromise agreement with the Philippine government on work contracts.They claimed the new deal cancelled the requirement of a good conduct certificate for the Saudi employer and established a $400 monthly minimum wage, inclusive of housing and food.In June, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted a new treaty to give domestic workers employed in the Gulf region more protection. Millions of people who have been without guarantees of their basic rights will win new protection, US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said. Human Rights Watch investigations across Asia and the Middle East have previously documented the failure by many governments to monitor recruitment agencies that impose heavy debt burdens or misinform migrant domestic workers about their jobs. It said recruitment-related abuses, domestic workers' isolation in private homes, and inadequate labor and immigration laws contribute significantly to forced labour, trafficking, and domestic servitude.In May, Sri Lanka said it was looking to offer more skilled workers and less unskilled labour to the Middle East.A majority of workers arriving in the region from the south Asian country have traditionally filled unskilled positions but the Sri Lankan government said it is trying to shift the emphasis of its manpower supply. From / Arabian Business news