Saudi HR Ministry denies Ethiopia domestic worker recruitment cancellations linked to 30% fee hike

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has denied reports that domestic worker recruitment contracts from Ethiopia were cancelled through the Musaned platform due to a 30% increase in recruitment costs.

In a media statement issued on 29 October, the ministry clarified that the cancellations involved only a limited number of stalled contracts and were not related to any changes in recruitment fees.

According to the ministry, the affected contracts encountered challenges involving certain overseas labour-sending agencies, which affected their ability to fulfil contractual obligations to recruitment companies licensed in Saudi Arabia.

The ministry said the cancellations were intended to protect beneficiaries’ rights and maintain the quality and reliability of domestic worker recruitment services. The measure also aimed to address stalled cases and minimise the impact of delays on the completion of recruitment procedures.

Reaffirming the continued availability of domestic worker recruitment services through the Musaned platform, the ministry said the services would remain accessible at the costs previously specified and approved.

It stressed that the action taken against the stalled contracts should not be interpreted as a change in recruitment fees, dismissing claims that the cancellations were linked to a 30% increase in costs.