Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The recruitment of workers from Bangladesh will start as soon as the Kingdom “places its orders,” Consul General of Bangladesh Shahidul Karim said on Tuesday.



He said the minimum wage for domestic workers has been fixed at SR800, and specific measures have been agreed upon to protect the rights of both workers and employers.



The Bangladesh government supervises the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) and private agencies registered with the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), the two bodies authorized to facilitate overseas recruitment, Karim said, replying to Saudi Gazette questionnaire.



During a bilateral meeting held last month in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia agreed upon a minimum wage of SR800 per month for domestic workers, the consul general said, adding that the salary would eventually be determined by market factors.



The employer has to pay return airfare, arrange accommodation, provide food, clothing, cover medical expenses and other related expenditure, he said.



The introduction of a standard employment contract, provision for expeditious settlement of disputes, payment of salary through banking channel, provision for taking legal action against recruitment offices, companies or agencies in violation of laws of either countries are among the most important features of this agreement, Karim said.