MANILA: Saudi Arabia has agreed to a $400 monthly minimum wage for Filipina maids, a year after a row over the issue halted the entry of such workers, Philippines officials said on Thursday.

Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay, who oversees the welfare of Filipino overseas workers, said in a statement that the kingdom had agreed to lift its ban on Filipino workers, imposed in June 2011.

“More than the lifting of the ban, I find the decision of the Saudi government to increase the mandated salary for our household service workers further proof of a shared commitment to protect (their) welfare,” he added.

Binay’s spokesman Joey Salgado later confirmed that Saudi Arabia had agreed to the $400 minimum monthly wage that the Philippines had been asking for its maids — one of the key issues that led to the ban being imposed.—AFP