KARACHI: Pakistan secured the second position among the countries that won the highest domestic worker recruitment contracts in Saudi Arabia during the month of December 2021 as the kingdom recorded an increase in the total recruitment contracts, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development data shows.
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s Musaned platform, specialized in the recruitment of domestic workers, recorded an increase of more than 15 percent in the total recruitment contracts of domestic workers during the fourth quarter of the year 2021.
The platform indicated that Bangladesh topped the list of countries with 12,000 contracts during the month of December, according to the statistics released by Musaned this week. Pakistan stood second with more than 11,000 contracts, while India was able to make around 11,000 contracts.
The increase in domestic worker contracts comes as the Saudi labor market continues to expand, mainly due to the launch of several mega projects under the Saudi Vision 2030, according to a Pakistani overseas employment promotor.
“We are receiving a lot of enquiries from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates with the restoration of routine life after the COVID-19,” Sarfraz Zahoor Cheema, former chairman of the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promotors Association, told Arab News on Sunday.
“We will see more export of manpower from Pakistan during the current and next years to various sectors of the kingdom.”
Cheema, however, said that Pakistani workers were not trained for domestic employment as compared to Bangladesh and particularly Philippines, which had developed it as an industry.
Saudi Arabia is utilizing Musaned to add several new countries to its list for the recruitment of domestic workers in 2022, according to Alson World, a communication strategies development firm that operates in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The kingdom is keen to have workers from countries that fit into Saudi families, based on epidemics, crime rate, language, education, expected recruitment cost, salaries and other criteria.
Recruitment contracts of domestic workers increased to 65,000 in October 2021 and more than 69,000 in November 2021. In December, the ceiling rose to 76,000 contracts, recording a steady increase by the end of 2021.
Based on the November figures, Philippines and Bangladesh secured 13,000 recruitment contracts, followed by Egypt with more than 9,000 contracts.
Philippines recorded the same figure in October, while the number from Bangladesh stood at more than 11,000 contracts. Uganda was ranked third with around 10,000 contracts.
Musaned aims to govern, automate and facilitate procedures for the recruitment of domestic workers and increase the level of protection of the rights of all parties by managing the contracting process between individuals and recruitment offices.
It also aims to the manage the relationship between Saudi recruitment offices and domestic worker recruitment firms in countries exporting manpower.
Pakistan secures second highest domestic worker contracts in Saudi Arabia in Dec. 2021
https://arab.news/9tr57
Pakistan secures second highest domestic worker contracts in Saudi Arabia in Dec. 2021
- Bangladesh topped the list of countries with 12,000 contracts in December 2021
- Pakistani overseas employment promotor hopes for more export of manpower this year
Pakistan warns of heavy rain, snowfall and landslide risks in northern districts from today
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa says snowfall can make roads slippery in tourist resorts like Naran, Kaghan and Kalam
- Provincial authorities warn tourists and travelers to avoid unnecessary movement during the weather spell
PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned Friday heavy rains and snowfall expected from today through Dec. 15 could trigger landslides, road closures and hazardous travel conditions across the northern districts.
The alert follows forecasts of widespread precipitation in the province’s mountainous regions, where steep slopes and winter road conditions routinely heighten the risk of disruption.
Dense fog is also expected in the plains, including Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera and Swabi, potentially affecting visibility and slowing motorway traffic.
“The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has issued alerts to all relevant departments to take advance precautionary measures,” the agency said.
It warned that snowfall could make roads slippery in areas such as Naran, Kaghan, Kalam and Jabba, while heavy rain and snow “may increase the risk of landsliding.”
Residents living close to rivers, streams and seasonal water channels were advised to remain vigilant.
Rain and snowfall are also forecast in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Galyat, Haripur, Buner, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram and North and South Waziristan.
Tourists and travelers were urged to avoid unnecessary movement during the weather spell. Daytime temperatures are expected to fall sharply as the cold system intensifies.
Local administrations have also been instructed to keep drainage systems active ahead of the expected rainfall.
Pakistan has faced a series of extreme-weather emergencies in recent years — from devastating floods in 2022 to recurring droughts and record heatwaves — despite contributing less than one percent to global carbon emissions.
Officials say climate volatility has made mountainous regions more prone to landslides and flash floods, highlighting the importance of early warnings and local preparedness.
