The Labor Ministry opened a women’s section in its east Riyadh office on Sunday for recruiting domestic help.

Abdullah Al-Olayan, director-general of the ministry’s branch office in the Riyadh region, said it would help businesswomen and other qualified women recruit maids and drivers.

“The women’s section was opened to ensure privacy for businesswomen and other females who have fulfilled recruitment conditions,” Al-Olayan said, adding that the ministry has plans to open more women-only offices.

The section will issue visas for maids and other domestic workers.

In a related development, the ministry denied press reports that it was increasing visa charges for the recruitment of domestic help from SR2,000 to SR2,300 when they introduce electronic visa services on Oct. 25.

“There will not be any change in recruitment fees, which will remain pegged at SR2,000,” said Tayseer Al-Mufrej, media director at the ministry.

“We have not taken a final decision on imposing additional fees for recruitment. Such fees are charged for additional services provided by recruitment offices and companies to get visas, which is optional.”

People will be able to get visas without additional charges if they visit the office for recruiting domestic help.

“There is no rule that domestic help visas should be issued only through recruitment offices,” he said.

 
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