New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS): Saudi Arabia and India are set to ink an important agreement on labour cooperation when the kingdom's Labour Minister Adel Fakieh arrives on a three-day visit on New Year. Saudi Arabia is one of the top destinations for Indian workers and the labour agreement is expected to standardise service conditions of Indian workers.

The agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers Recruitment is to be inked on Thursday.

The agreement is also expected to do away with the role of middlemen in employing Indian labour.

The Saudi minister, who arrives Wednesday evening, will meet Vice President Hamid Ansari, who has served as Indian ambassador in Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. Fakieh would hold delegation level talks with the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Thursday after which the agreement is to be signed.

On Friday, the Saudi minister is to meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid before leaving.

The 2.8 million plus strong Indian community in Saudi Arabia is the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom.