Low salary, abuse fears keep Bangladeshi maids away

The number of Bangladeshi nationals who have registered to be domestic workers in the Kingdom has been much lower than expected, reports the Arab News on 21 June.

“Only 5,000 women have registered at about 100 recruitment offices in different regions of Bangladesh,” Mohamed Sarwar Alam, Sarwar Alam at the Bangladeshi mission, quoted to have said to the Arab News.

Registration does not mean that all will come to the Kingdom. Medical exams and other reasons may further reduce the numbers, the Bangladesh Sarwar Alam also said to have mentioned to the Arab News.

He said procedures and paperwork for about 500 maids have been completed and that the maids are expected to arrive in the Kingdom during Ramadan.

 “The monthly salary of SR800 does not attract them to leave their country and families. Other countries pay higher salaries. In Hong Kong, a maid can expect a monthly salary of $250 to $300 (SR937 to SR1,125). The country also sends workers to Jordan and Thailand,” he also said to have quoted to the news media, explaining the reasons for the low numbers.

Other reasons for hesitation in coming to the Kingdom involve the fear and concern that workers are not guaranteed their legal rights as stated in the employment contract.

“Bangladesh stopped sending workers to Saudi Arabia more than eight years ago, so getting started again might take a little time,” Sarwar further said to have qouted.

Labor Ministry spokesman Tayseer Al-Mufrij said his ministry was working with the relevant bodies to overcome the obstacles hindering the arrival of domestic workers in the Kingdom.