JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia–Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia on Thursday (May 26) signed the long awaited domestic workers’ recruitment agreement. The agreement was signed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Labor and Social Affairs ministries of both countries amid reluctance by the over 200,000 illegal Ethiopian migrants to leave the kingdom in a 90-day amnesty period.
On March 30, 2017, the Saudi government granted a 90-day amnesty for people who have been living in the kingdom without residence and work permits to leave the country, including Ethiopians.
As per the agreement, Ethiopians could work in Saudi Arabia after concluding the necessary deal with employment agencies licensed by both nations.
The agreement signed between both countries helps to protect the rights of Ethiopian domestic workers, a statement from Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
In a related development the visiting Ethiopian Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu met with his Saudi counterpart, Adel al-Jubeir in Jeddah they exchanged views on the repatriation of Ethiopian nationals.
Those illegal immigrants who fail to take advantage of the 90-day amnesty period will face deportation.
So far about 23,000 Ethiopian were repatriated from the Kingdom since March 30, 2017.
Source: Journal du Cameroun
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