The Ministry of Labor and Social Development and its Indonesian counterpart have reached an agreement for the recruitment of domestic labors, according to local media reports.
The ministry, according to the deal, will safeguard workers’ interest like keeping their identity cards and travel documents with them, as also freedom to call their families.
The agreement that was signed recently provided several other provisions to ensure a smooth policy, facilitating a better arrangement for Indonesian domestic help in the country.
The agreement includes establishment of a mechanism to employ and a guarantee of the rights and duties of the domestic workers as also the employers, as per international norms. The deal stipulated that the Indonesian workers should be sent within a month after their visas dates are approved.
It ensured that the working contracts are in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations in the two countries in terms of the time and place of work, the duties and responsibilities of the worker and the employer, the weekly day off, vacations and the expiry date of the contract.
The employer will open a bank account in the name of his worker for the purpose of depositing his/her salary, as stipulated in the working contract. This is to ensure the financial rights of the employees.
Authorities in the Kingdom will facilitate the offering of consular assistance by the diplomatic missions to Indonesian citizens in the event any Indonesian is arrested or detained. In this case, the consulate will facilitate the return of the Indonesian domestic workers to their home country once the work contract expired, or in emergency situations including the issuance of exit visas.
Under Article four of the agreement, the Indonesian candidate for employment should be within the age group of 21 to 55 years, and must have no prior criminal records. Additionally, they must be trained on the specified skills required in the work contract, and must familiarize themselves with the culture, customs and social norms in Saudi Arabia.
Finally, Indonesian domestic workers must also meet the health conditions set by Saudi Arabia.
Among other provisions, it stipulates the working contract only comes into effect when the language and wording of the document is understood by all, and has been formally agreed by both parties.
Any disputes, the agreement says, between the parties should be amicably solved through the use of a joint conflict resolution committee and the engagement of all necessary regulatory channels.
