Saudi Arabia bans Filipino, Indonesian maids

The sun sets behind the minarets of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sunday. The kingdom has said it will not issue new work permits for maids from the Philippines and Indonesia. AP

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—The spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Labor Ministry says the kingdom will no longer issue work permits for domestic workers from the Philippines and Indonesia after new hiring guidelines laid out by those nations.

Khatab Al Atiry said Wednesday the decision would be effective July 2.

Indonesia said on June 22 it would not send domestic workers to Saudi Arabia until Riyadh signs a deal on migrant worker protection. The moratorium followed the execution days earlier of an Indonesian maid convicted of murdering her Saudi employer’s wife.

Indonesian officials complained they were not informed before the execution.

Millions of foreign workers live in the kingdom, and rights and labor groups say domestic workers and laborers are poorly paid and subjected to abuse.