Kathmandu, September 16

The government has fixed the minimum wage of unskilled Nepali migrant workers at 1,300 Saudi riyals (approximately Rs 40,000) per month in Saudi Arabia. This review in salary has been made after nearly five years. The last time the salary was reviewed was in 2013.

According to a Cabinet decision on Friday, to hire Nepali workers, Saudi Arabian employer agencies must now pay a minimum monthly salary of 1,300 Saudi riyals, which includes 300 riyals as food allowance. The new salary structure is based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

Previously, the minimum salary for Nepali workers in Saudi Arabia was 1,000 riyals including 200 riyals for food allowance.

“We have taken this decision to increase the minimum monthly wage of Nepali workers in Saudi Arabia so that they are able to improve their livelihoods,” said Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista.

However, the new monthly wage will be implemented only after it is published in the Nepal Gazette.

As per the Cabinet decision, Saudi employer agencies will now have to also provide medical treatment, accommodation and transportation facility, and air tickets for the migrant workers.

According to the new provisions, the employer agencies will have to pay a minimum monthly salary of 1,500 riyals to 2,800 riyals for semi-skilled workers including 300 riyals for food allowance. Similarly, skilled workers will get a minimum monthly wage of 1,700 riyals to 3,500 riyals including 500 riyals for food allowance. Likewise, professional job holders will have to be paid a minimum monthly salary of 5,000 riyals to 11,000 riyals.