ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have finalised work on a special bilateral agreement aimed at facilitating the employment of Pakistani domestic workers in the Kingdom while ensuring a more transparent recruitment process and stronger protection of workers’ rights.
According to government sources, the development follows meetings between senior officials from both countries on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.
Pakistan’s Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and the ministry’s secretary held meetings with senior officials of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). During the discussions, Saudi officials proposed a separate and dedicated agreement specifically covering domestic workers.
The proposed agreement builds on the 2021 general agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia governing the recruitment of workers. Unlike the earlier framework, however, the new agreement will focus exclusively on domestic workers, including their employment conditions, legal protections, rights and welfare.
The agreement is intended to curb illegal recruitment channels, promote safe and lawful migration, and strengthen cooperation between relevant institutions in both countries.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has forwarded the matter to the federal cabinet for formal approval under the relevant provisions of the Rules of Business, 1973.
Sources said that once the federal cabinet grants final approval, the agreement is expected to be formally signed during an anticipated visit by a high-level Saudi delegation to Pakistan.
Saudi Arabia remains the largest destination for Pakistani workers and a major source of remittances for Pakistan. Millions of dollars are sent home by Pakistani workers in the Kingdom every year, providing financial support to millions of families and contributing significantly to the country’s economy.
The new framework is expected to help regulate employment opportunities for Pakistani domestic workers while providing them with stronger legal and social protections in Saudi Arabia.
