Are Indian domestics less attractive for Saudis?

The Indian consulate in Jeddah has received a few requests to ratify contracts of the domestic workers in Saudi Arabia after India imposed a bank guarantee requirement to be fulfilled by employers, a media report said on Saturday.

"This requirement is considered as one of the most important terms set by the consulate to preserve worker's rights in the Kingdom," Arab News quoted a consulate official as saying.

"However, Saudis are interested in cheap and qualified labour, which makes Indian workers less attractive, as according to the deal, their monthly wages can reach up to 1,500 Saudi riyals ((around $400)," said the official who did not wish to be named.

The agreement signed about three months ago was intended "to benefit both parties and ensure these workers are capable of handling the job well", the official added.

Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak had earlier made it clear that his government had no intention to cancel the bank guarantee requirement.

Saudi officials have denied any link between less number of recruitment of Indian workers and the financial requirements demanded by the Indian consulate, citing instead a lack of suitable workers in the country.

Yayha Maqbool, head of the recruitment committee at Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said that India was not fulfilling its commitments of providing appropriate workers, adding that the currently available age groups did not meet the needs of Saudi families.