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Discuss this article (4 Comments)First group of Saudi housemaids start work
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Monday, 03 August 2009
MAID SERVICE: A big majority of maids working in Saudi Arabia are expat workers from Asia. (Getty Images)
The first group of 30 Saudi housemaids have begun work after years of the profession being restricted to mostly women of Asian nationalities.
The Saudi women, Al-Madina newspaper reported, are all aged between 20 and 45 years old and none of them have primary school certificates. They earn salaries of up to SR1,500 ($400) per month.
Hana Uthman, an employment agency manager, told Al-Madina that the 30 women were selected after a series of interviews and intense training while another 100 women have made applications and are awaiting interviews, Saudi Gazette reported on Monday.
Restrictions, Uthman said, set their hours at eight hours a day with work to be carried out when the male head of the household is absent from the premises.
According to Uthman, the demand for housemaids of Saudi nationality is reportedly higher than that of other nationalities due to a purported fear of foreigners “practicing magic”.
The Ministry of Labour moved two years ago to permit Saudi women to work as housemaids, officially known as Saudi Home Arrangers.
READERS' COMMENTS
Disclaimer: The views expressed here by our readers are not necessarily shared by ArabianBusiness.com or its employees.
arab servants
Posted by macca on Monday 3 August 2009 at 20:54 UAE time
can we look forward to UAE nationals applying for maids jobs now then ?
Posted by macca on Monday 3 August 2009 at 20:54 UAE time
can we look forward to UAE nationals applying for maids jobs now then ?
Saudi Housemaids
Posted by robert, Dubai on Monday 3 August 2009 at 15:25 UAE time
Saudi Housemaids earn SR1,500 per month whereas their Asian counterparts earn max of SR700 per month
Saudi Housemaids work 8 hours a day whereas their Asian counterparts work up to 18 hours a day
Saudi Housemaids do their work when the males are out of the house whereas their Asian counterparts work with the males in the house
Seems fair - NOT!!!
Posted by robert, Dubai on Monday 3 August 2009 at 15:25 UAE time
Saudi Housemaids earn SR1,500 per month whereas their Asian counterparts earn max of SR700 per month
Saudi Housemaids work 8 hours a day whereas their Asian counterparts work up to 18 hours a day
Saudi Housemaids do their work when the males are out of the house whereas their Asian counterparts work with the males in the house
Seems fair - NOT!!!
Sad that it is newsworthy
Posted by Siwash, Dubai, UAE on Monday 3 August 2009 at 13:46 UAE time
While growing up in Saudi during the '70s and before the oil wealth and massive spending of the '80s, it was normal for Saudis to be involved in labor work. I remember that mechanics and tradesmen were Saudis. Only during the last 20 years has the Saudi population become too "high-class" for menial work. That is a natural state of affairs in any country with uneducated people working in low-end jobs. It is only a newsworthy thing that it is happening in the GCC.
Posted by Siwash, Dubai, UAE on Monday 3 August 2009 at 13:46 UAE time
While growing up in Saudi during the '70s and before the oil wealth and massive spending of the '80s, it was normal for Saudis to be involved in labor work. I remember that mechanics and tradesmen were Saudis. Only during the last 20 years has the Saudi population become too "high-class" for menial work. That is a natural state of affairs in any country with uneducated people working in low-end jobs. It is only a newsworthy thing that it is happening in the GCC.
First group of Saudi housemaids start work
Posted by bewildered of dubai, dubai, u.a.e on Monday 3 August 2009 at 13:26 UAE time
is this a spoof article? Is it April 1 again???
Posted by bewildered of dubai, dubai, u.a.e on Monday 3 August 2009 at 13:26 UAE time
is this a spoof article? Is it April 1 again???
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