Good working conditions encouraging more Indian women seeking employment in Saudi

PTI Riyadh: Indians represent the second- largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia and "welcoming conditions" for women are increasing the kingdom's appeal for Indian women seeking meaningful employment here, according to the country's human resources and social development ministry. Official figures show that as of 2024, over 2.4 million Indian workers reside in the kingdom, with 1.64 million in the private sector and 785,000 in domestic work. Bangladesh has the highest number of expat workers at 2.69 million. A spokesperson in the ministry said Indian workers, including women, play a vital role in Saudi Arabia's labour market, comprising a substantial portion of the expatriate workforce. "Comprehensive reforms, expanded workplace support, and investments in skills development create welcoming conditions for women from diverse backgrounds, " t h e spokesperson said.

"Improved infrastructure, including women-only transportation and childcare support, further enhances the appeal for Indian women seeking meaningful employment, enabling them to contribute to the kingdom's growth while pursuing their professional and personal aspirations," the spokesperson told PTI. Asked about some instances of Indians being duped by agents and touts in India on employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, he said Saudi Arabia is dedicated to upholding international labour standards and has implemented substantial labour reforms to protect workers' rights. "To further support these efforts, Saudi Arabia has established bilateral agreements with various countries, including India, to ensure the protection o f workers during recruitment, focusing on information exchange, joint investigations, and capacitybuilding to combat forced labour," he said. The Musaned and Qiwa platforms allow workers to file complaints regarding wages, contract terms, or mistreatment, ensuring that these concerns are addressed and, where necessary, legal action is taken, he added. On the over 11,000 lawsuits involving Indian workers this year, the spokesperson said the first stage of consideration of labour disputes between the worker and the employer is the mediation process conducted to resolve the dispute and try to reach an amicable resolution acceptable to both parties if possible or refer the case to the labour court.

Elaborating on the working conditions for women, he said that Saudi Arabia's advancements in supporting female employment position the country as a conducive environment for success. The spokesperson said that efforts by the ministry to support women in the workforce have led to an unprecedented reduction in female unemployment in the kingdom. By the second quarter of 2024, the rate dropped to 12.8 per cent, down from 14.2 per cent in the first quarter - a 1.4 percentage point decrease and a 3.1 percentage point drop from the same period in 2023. The spokesperson said in recent years, Saudi Arabiahas introduced various labour reforms to improve the working conditions of expatriate workers.