Writing in the Arabic daily Eqtisadiah, here translated by Arab News, Turki Al-Dakheel notes with dismay how badly many Saudis treat their housemaids. Rather than a functional part of the household, he argues, too many see them as mere accessories, things to which women can point to show that they’re up there somewhere on the social scale. Their treatment is utterly improper, against human rights, and against Islamic norms he says. The way they are treated isn’t even in line with Bedouin ethics.
He point out, too, that many Saudis are confused about what is traditional practice and what is called for by Islam. He’d like to see the cruelty stopped.
Torturing housemaids
Turki Al-Dakheel — EqtisadiahDO we consider the housemaid to be a human being? Or is she just a machine like a washing machine and a refrigerator? Some of us, because of excessive laziness and a disdain of doing what we consider easy jobs, cannot do without a housemaid even if there are no children in the house.
The housemaid in this case will be used as something to brag about. She will drag herself behind the husband and wife carrying the shopping bags. This has become the typical picture of a Saudi family, whether large or small. Ostentatiousness is a disease eating away at our society. The main purpose of hiring a housemaid is so the wife can boast of having a servant who blindly obeys her orders.
The poor housemaid may not be paid her salary for months. Her passport will be locked away from her. She will be forced to sleep in a room even dogs would shy from. She may constantly lose her precious things.
Is this not a frightening brutality? The bad treatment of housemaids is totally against human rights and international norms.
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April:14:2010 - 12:34
I agree with 99 percent of what he says with the exception that treating them very well will prevent them from running away. Many have run away to make more money or do other things on the side.
I do feel compassion for them and try to my best to make them happy within the limits of this society. For example, at times I invite her to sit at the table and have meals with us and my kids which is very unusual for Saudi society. Her father works here so we allow him to come and visit her when he wants to.
They are human and we must constantly remind ourselves they aren’t superhuman.
May:09:2010 - 02:07
I can not remember how many times i have seen a healthy,giant, heavy wheiht saudi employer shout upon his feather-weight tiny fragile indonesian housemaid to take up the task of lifting a full gas cylinder and sometimes even heavier things from his car trunk to at least 1st or 2nd floor and dare call himself a man what a compassion.
regarding that: they will run away if you kept their passports with them,this where u have giving a tongue to an evel selfish mind, you know what that is the whole idea behind why they demand that everyone should keep his own passport with him to be free to quit whenever he likes or whenever he finds better chances,or may you people thing that you alone have ambitions,dreams and the exclusive right to good life and others are born to be tied to the yoke servitude. (love to your brother what you like for yourself)to us it is just a Phrase under suspension to be used only in religious Sermons.
May:09:2010 - 08:55
Actually I have a Doha Debate on GCC attitudes to foreign workers which is up currently. Some interesting points from the experts, audience members, and in the comments section:
Oil, Cheap Labour, and People: Opportunity vs Human Rights in the Gulf
All are welcome to read and comment!