As many as 3.18 million visas were issued for domestic workers - 35 per cent of which were for Filipinos and Indians during the last three years, an Aleqtesadiyah newspaper report published in Arab News said.

In 2016, the number of visas issued went up by 15 per cent to 1,173,500, against 995,930 in 2015 and 847,927 in 2014, pointed out a report by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development.

Riyadh had the highest rate of visa issuance in the last three years at 25 per cent, the report said.

The ministry said domestic workers will be transferred to other homes if their employer does not pay their salaries for three months for no valid reason.

The ministry urged people not to get involved in ads selling or leasing the services of domestic workers on social media by unlicensed authorities or individuals.

It said it is monitoring such violations and transferring them to competent authorities for punishment.

The ministry called on social media to abide by regulations prohibiting these ads, according to the Arab News report.

Source: Khaleej Times