Saudis should not work as maids: survey

Riyadh: A recent survey showed that most of the people in the kingdom oppose Saudi women working as housemaids.

The outcome of the survey, released on Monday, showed that nearly half of those interviewed for the survey are of the opinion that Saudi women should not be allowed to work as housemaids.

"However, 35.5 per cent is of the view that they can work as maids under strict conditions.

Only 12.3 per cent of those, who took part in the survey, are in favour of employing Saudi women as housemaids. The survey was conducted among some 3,000 Saudis and expatriates in the kingdom by the Saudi Center for Statistical Studies.

The survey was held at a time when a controversy was raging in the kingdom with regard to allowing Saudi women to work as housemaids.

Some of the people are of the view that the housemaid sector, which is dominated by foreigners, especially those from Asian countries, shall be taken over by Saudi women in a phased manner.

They say that this gradual transition shall be enforced under strict conditions, such as restricting work during day time and not spending night at the employer's house.

On the other hand, another section of society is of the view that it is improper for Saudi unemployed women to work as housemaids and that they can grab jobs that are available in various other sectors.

In the kingdom, the housemaid job, which is regarded by many Saudis as demeaning, had been mostly restricted to Asian women. The Ministry of Labour permitted Saudi women to work as maids two years ago, but there has been strong resistance to the move from various quarters.