There appears to be a confluence of forces that may spell a change in the way Saudi Arabia deals with domestic workers. We all know of cases of abuse of maids and other domestics. We also know that some foreign workers play with loopholes (or create them) to their own advantage. Some countries insist that their citizens taking domestic jobs receive a minimum wage. Others completely ban their citizens from applying for these jobs.
Now, Arab News reports, the Saudi government is considering banning the hiring of domestic labor from a handful of countries. It cites the unpreparedness of these workers to deal with Saudi conditions (assuming a ‘normal’, not ‘normally abusive’ condition, of course).
Perhaps it is time for Saudi society to re-think its addiction to domestic workers. Prior to WWII, about a quarter of American families had one or more domestic workers. During the war, labor shortages took many of those out of that particular market and put them into other labor markets. Most never returned. This was helped by the advent of inexpensive, labor-saving devices like washing machines and dishwashers. Those technologies now exist abundantly in the Kingdom. The real sticking point seems to be the large size of Saudi families necessitating more hands to do the work. There’s a simple answer to that.
Housemaids’ issue heats up
K.S. Ramkumar | Arab NewsJEDDAH: There is a move on the part of Saudi authorities to stop housemaids coming from certain countries. “We are serious in imposing a ban on the import of housemaids from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam,” said Ali Al-Quraishi, vice president of the local Labor Recruitment Committee.
“The main reason for considering such a ban is that the labor recruiters in those countries are not qualified enough to supply housemaids that suit the local culture and tradition. There is no proper selection process of housemaids to suit this market, nor are they given orientation before they leave their countries,” he added.
Al-Quraishi said local employers have found that maids from these countries make no effort to adapt to local conditions. “They don’t even show any inclination to cope with local traditions and culture,” he said. “We have decided to be extra-careful when dealing with such foreign labor, especially after some reports that housemaids were involved in child murders and incidents of violence,” he added.
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January:26:2010 - 16:59
I think it is time that the government recognize the abuses that these hard working, underappreciated people endure. To me this is a golden opportunity. Families are to large? Start practicing birth control as there is expected to be a huge explosion in population there in the next 20 years or so. A daunting prospect considering there are not enough jobs now and that water IMO will likely be the next shortage.
Why not use it as an opportunity to have the kids chip in and do the chores around the house to help teach some responsibility from a young age? Start small…Jr. is resposible for carrying his/her laundry to the machine and making their bed. work up from there…keep rooms tidy, someone sets the table for dinner, someone else clears, someone loads the dishwasher and someone else puts the clean dishes away. It helps kids feel like a part of the family and responsible for his or her contribution to it. ANY kid can help around the house depending on their age/abilities.
January:26:2010 - 22:36
You know Oby, what will happen is that the girls will be doing all the work and the boys will be whiling their time around as it happens in India in families that can’t afford domestic help. That will be more reason for the girls to not study.
I think Saudi Arabia should learn to treat its workers properly. Pay them well, behave with them nicely, talk to them politely, don’t illegally confiscate their passports, give them leave that is due to them, don’t look down upon them simply because they are not Arabs. These are behaviour patterns that the Saudis need to learn – adults and children alike. And it’s not too much to ask for.
January:26:2010 - 23:05
Daisy…You are probably right about the boys…I forgot we are talking about KSA not USA! We don’t want to put the girls at any less of an advantage than they already are.
January:27:2010 - 05:51
Whether they like it or not Saudis will have to migrate step by step towards what Oby described; the way their society is organized needs to change, their standard of living (linked to their current economic situation) will definitely change sooner or later, so they will have to adapt. When that comes they will stop wondering whether they should import boys or girls, Sri Lankans or Indonesians.