Ambassador warns Zimbabweans about Saudi job risks
Zimbabweans considering employment in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the beauty industry, need to be very cautious, the country’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jonathan Wutawunashe, has said.
Those considering job offers in Saudi Arabia have been advised to contact the Zimbabwean embassy in Riyadh, which will check out the potential employer.
Authorities have also pledged to facilitate the assessment of recruiters in Zimbabwe by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
The Ambassador highlighted the growing concerns over misleading recruitment practices by agents seeking cheap labour but making extravagant promises to potential workers that leave many Zimbabweans disillusioned upon arrival.
“While there are legitimate opportunities for decent employment in Saudi Arabia, some Zimbabweans, particularly ladies who have an interest in working in the beauty industry, are getting disillusioned when they arrive at their workplaces and discover that the working conditions offered by the employer are a far cry from those they were promised by recruiters back home,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
“In some cases, recruiters who want to secure more business from employers promise cheap labour to the latter, while enticing prospective recruits with promises of inflated emoluments.
“The employer jumps at the opportunity to recruit less expensively, while the recruit is enticed by rosy, but fictitious, remuneration prospects,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
The Ambassador explained that some recruiters, eager to secure business from employers, often promise inflated salaries to attract potential candidates.
This deceptive practice not only misleads job seekers but also creates a cycle of exploitation as employers opt for cheaper labour.
To combat this issue, the embassy in Riyadh is urging Zimbabweans to verify job offers before committing.
“Our nationals must therefore exercise due diligence before accepting employment offers,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
The presence of a Zimbabwean embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, makes it easier to check the veracity of employment offers presented by recruiters before accepting such offers.
“Job seekers can send the contracts they are being offered, together with prospective employers’ location and contact details, to the embassy for verification before they commit to anything or pay any fee to anybody,” he said.
“Job seekers looking for employment in Saudi Arabia can, additionally, inquire with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare on the standing of recruitment agencies,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
State media
