MCI tightens oversight, summons owners of 22 recruitment offices over pricing, contract violations

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has intensified regulatory action against domestic worker recruitment offices, summoning 22 establishments for breaches of the laws governing the sector, most notably violations related to approved pricing structures.

Informed sources said the ministry issued three formal violation reports against offices found to be non-compliant with regulatory requirements.

The violations were documented through inspection campaigns conducted across all governorates, from the beginning of 2025 through the end of the year.

According to the sources, review notices were dispatched immediately after irregularities were detected, requiring office owners to appear before the ministry to address multiple infractions. Chief among these were charging fees above the officially approved rates, alongside breaches linked to contractual terms and invoicing procedures, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The Ministry, through its Commercial Control Sector, reaffirmed its commitment to organizing the domestic labor market, safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring that recruitment offices adhere strictly to the regulations and pricing frameworks set by the competent authorities.

Officials noted that pricing violations have been a recurring concern in recent years, particularly during periods of heightened demand, when some offices sought to impose unauthorized additional charges beyond the legally permitted ceiling.

Past inspections also revealed instances where offices failed to use electronic payment systems (K-Net) when collecting fees — a requirement introduced to enhance transparency and ensure proper documentation of financial transactions.

However, sources indicated that such violations have declined significantly following intensified enforcement and awareness campaigns.

The ministry emphasized that inspection teams from the Commercial Control Department conduct year-round field visits, underscoring that legal action will continue against any establishment found circumventing the rules, as part of broader efforts to promote fairness, transparency and accountability within the domestic labor recruitment sector.