ADDIS ABABA- The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia announced on Wednesday that it has begun granting work visas for Ethiopian domestic workers coming to the Kingdom following extensive negotiations between the two countries.
The visa issuance was inaugurated at the Saudi Embassy in the presence of Labor and Social Affairs Minister Dr. Ergoge Tesfaye and Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Ethiopia Sami Jamil Abdullah.
Following the event, the Minister told reporters that the visa issuance would strengthen the Ethio-Saudi relationship. It would also curb illegal human trafficking.
Dr. Ergoge stated that her ministry has been partnering with relevant institutions including Ministry of Foreign Affairs to solve differences concerning minimum wage and other
issues that has hindered the implementation of labor recruitment agreement that the two countries signed last year.
Accordingly, consensus has been reached to make 1,000 Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) as the minimum wage for Ethiopian domestic workers.
Noting that unskilled labor was the primary factor for the low wage, she said that her Ministry has been working with Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions and other educational bodies to send skilled employees that could provide the required services.
The Ministry also follows up trainings that have been offered to citizens who want to work in the Middle East. The trainings included the use of home appliances as well as familiarizing trainees with the culture and working environment of destination countries.
An electronic system was put in place and the domestic workers obtained digital identity cards in a bid to communicate with the Saudi government to ensure the safety of Ethiopian employees in terms of getting salaries on time and protected from any assaults, Dr. Ergoge noted.
Saudi
Arabian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sami Jamil Abdullah said on his part that the
effort of the two countries has born fruits materialized in the issuance of the
visa.
Noting that Saudi has been offering huge job opportunities to Ethiopian employees, Amb. Sami indicated that consensus was reached with the Ethiopian government to send skilled and specialized labor to the Kingdom.
The new agreement also stresses on the recruitment of qualified and trained workforce thorough approved employment agencies.
“We are expecting a lot of visa applications and the Embassy is ready to serve visa quires in a timely manner in close partnership with Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and other government bodies,” he remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald August 2/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
