Domestic Helpers

The cost is about 15,000 to 20,000 Riyals for the recruiting cost paid to an agency. The salaries range from about 1000-1500 riyals per month for the minimum, depending on the country she is from. The time it takes to get someone here is from 1-6+ months, depending on from which country and what agency you use.

My advice is that you start by paying her the minimum amount in her contract, and then after a few months, you can increase her pay. Unfortunately, not all of the workers who come here are good people with good intentions. My friend just brought a helper, and after receiving her first month's salary, she tried to escape. Thankfully, we live in UDH where it's very difficult to escape due to the location and security, but she already had lots of phone numbers of people already in Saudi, so she put on a happy face and worked hard for one month, then completely changed. It doesn't matter how great you are to them, if they already have a plan to run away, then they will. And, thankfully, since that helper was only here for one month, the agency will provide them with a replacement or a refund, but it's very difficult when you wait so long for a helper and then they do that to you.

If you can, try to see if you can interview helpers via skype or even on the phone, so you can get a feeling for the lady before she arrives.

There are also a few agencies that have domestic helpers that you can get on a monthly basis, but it's expensive. My friend is paying 4000 riyals per month to an agency in Hofuf for a helper. (I don't know how much of that fee the helper actually gets.)

yeah, it's not cheap at all....and that's why I get angry when people start talking about their low salaries (and calling them slaves) without knowing the full story. We pay a lot of money to bring them, and they want to come, and it's actually a lot of money for them. I am American, so I think about when I worked a minimum wage job in high school and college...I know how hard it is to make it in USA on a low wage, and I know how Americans making minimum wage (or even more) cannot save money at all (or afford health insurance), and many are in debt up to their eyeballs. So, when I think about the domestic workers being able to save all that money or send it home where it will go a very long way, then I don't feel bad about their salary because it's fair for them and for us. We give up a lot to let them into our home and provide a lot for them.

Houseboys are a great option if what you need is mostly housework. If you need babysitting, then a houseboy may not be a good option, and I don't think they stay on camp too late.

If you are in Dhahran, then I think you can find a lady to come and work in your home, but it would probably be by word of mouth once you arrive. Maybe some people share their house helpers because they don't have much work for them. I don't know. I live in UDH, so the only option for us is hire a houseboy or hire a live-in helper, and for me, I need a woman who can clean and help with my kids, especially after I deliver my baby.