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What is the advisory for Female Domestic Service Workers in Saudi Arabia?

Ganga
Answered on March 24,2020

Since Domestic Service Workers are not covered under the Saudi Labour Law and are not protected by its provisions, in order to protect the interests of female Domestic Service Workers, the Government of India has signed a Bilateral Agreement on recruitment of DSWs with the Saudi Government in January 2014.
As per the Agreement:(a) recruitment of DSWs is to be done only through recognised RAs in both countries (b) DSW to have completed 30 years of age, (c) minimum wage of SR 1500/- per month, (d) a prescribed standard employment contract is to be signed by the DSW, Saudi Employer, as well as the RAs in both countries, and (e) the contract after its attestation by the Indian Mission upon submission of a bank guarantee for US$2,500 by the sponsor, needs to be uploaded on the e-Migrate portal for processing emigration clearance.
It is cautioned that female DSWs traveling to Saudi Arabia without following the procedures prescribed in the DSW Agreement, on any other type of visa other than DSW visa, or through a third country on a tourist visa, etc., are vulnerable to exploitation as they are in the country illegally and as result do not get the protection of the law. They will be at the mercy of their employers and in case they face labor problems and wanting to go back to India, in the absence of any grievance redressal mechanism, they could get stranded in the Kingdom indefinitely.
It is, therefore, strongly recommended that all female DSW being recruited to Saudi Arabia travel to the Kingdom ONLY after completing the procedure prescribed under the DSW Agreement. In case of doubt, please contact the Indian Embassy/Consulate for advice.

What is the advisory for Female Domestic Service Workers in Saudi Arabia?

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