Saudi Arabia says domestic worker recruitment from Ethiopia remains available

Saudi Arabia's HR ministry says recruitment of domestic workers from Ethiopia remains available through the Musaned platform.

The ministry said it canceled only a small number of stalled contracts because some overseas agencies could not meet their obligations.

It said the cancellations were meant to protect customers and address delays, not to change recruitment fees.

A separate account said Saudi firms were told to cancel contracts made from January to September 2026 and refund customers, citing changes in procedures and a possible fee increase.

That account said Ethiopian officials had sought to raise the fee from $700 to $900 per worker, while the ministry says its approved costs remain unchanged.

The accounts differ on how widely contracts were canceled and whether fees are changing.

The ministry has not announced a broader suspension, and recruitment remains available through Musaned at approved costs.