Higher recruitment cost cap creates competition among sector firms: HRSD Ministry official

Saad Al Hammad, the official spokesperson for the HRSD Ministry

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s (MHRSD) decision to impose a higher cap on recruitment costs does not mean that firms have to abide by a specific cost, Okaz newspaper reported, citing Saad Al Hammad, the ministry’s official spokesperson.

The cap was set as the maximum price that can be registered on “Musaned” platform, which will in turn create competition among recruitment companies and bureaus in the sector, he explained.

Prices could be lower by some facilities, Al Hammad added, affirming that the ministry took into account the interest of all parts in light of economic variables.

The ministry set the cap after a long study of the data registered on Musaned for all exporters of domestic workers.

The ministry will monitor all recruitment companies and bureaus to impose penalties on violators, he added.

All recruiters of domestic workers were asked not to exceed the cost cap set by the ministry, Argaam earlier reported.

The cost cap per nationality was set at SAR 9,500 for Ugandan domestic labor, SAR 10,000 for Thais, SAR 10.870 for Kenyans, SAR 13,000 for Bangladeshis, and SAR 17.290 for Filipinos exclusive of value-added tax (VAT).