Sayidaty magazine, a sister publication of Arab News and Asharq Alawsat, has done research into the problem of maids in the Gulf region and Egypt. It finds that domestic servants are widely abused, often violently. Arab News carries a brief synopsis of the report:
Maid abuse rampant in region, says magazine
RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | ARAB NEWSJEDDAH: A Saudi women’s magazine has published an article highlighting the abuse of maids and the need to find solutions to the problem, not just in the Kingdom but across the region.
According to the article in Sayidaty magazine (a sister publication of Arab News), many housemaids across the region are abused in a variety of ways from physical abuse to not being provided with food. It also adds that such maids have no rights and that they hardly see justice except when a major development occurs.
“Local newspapers have recently been publishing a lot about maid abuse in the Kingdom and this is where we decided to not just write about the horror stories but also find solutions to the problem,” said Mona Siraj, managing editor of Sayidaty magazine in Jeddah.
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Arab countries need to seriously reappraise their approach toward hiring foreign domestic servants—as well as local citizens who take the jobs. It is clear that the servants are not seen as anywhere near equal to the employer. Perhaps there should be some distinction, but not when it comes to basic human rights. It is these basic rights that are being abused. There is no excuse for it.
The nations who permit their nationals to take up work where there is a high likelihood that they will be abused also need to re-examine their priorities. Yes, remittances are welcome and often make up a sizable part of a country’s income. But if the cost is the lives of domestic workers—not miners, not fishermen, not oil field workers—then that cost is too high. Even the cost to the dignity of these workers is too high.
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January:20:2011 - 02:35
Always the problems; when will there be solutions?
January:20:2011 - 02:40
Maid abuse rampant in region, says magazine
By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | ARAB NEWS
Published: Jan 19, 2011 23:37
JEDDAH: A Saudi women’s magazine has published an article highlighting the abuse of maids and the need to find solutions to the problem, not just in the Kingdom but across the region.
And yet…
Fakieh says no move to abolish sponsorship law
By FAIZ AL-MAZROUIE | ARAB NEWS
Published: Jan 19, 2011 23:37
DAMMAM: Labor Minister Adel Fakieh said on Wednesday his ministry has no intention of making any radical changes to the current kafeel (sponsor) system and that no decision has yet been made in this respect.
Both these articles published in the same newspaper (same section) on the same day at the same time…perhaps to cancel each other out so to speak in the minds of some???
January:20:2011 - 06:06
I see a lot of similarity between the current kafeel system and the mahrem system. It’s just a bad idea to give people that kind of control/ownership over another. The mentality that lead to these systems needs to be challenged and both systems replaced. Replaced with what? Saudi has signed on to the Declaration of Human Rights (as long as it goes along with Islam). I imagine people can be found to show the compatibility of Human Rights and Islam and a new way of doing things.
January:20:2011 - 11:37
Interesting about abuse of Saudis and foreigners as well:
Saudi rights group to protest arbitrary detentions
Jan 20, 2011 at 07:35
By AP
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A Saudi human rights group is urging activists to join a 48-hour hunger strike next month to protest the practice of arbitrary detention in the oil-rich kingdom.
The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association says in a statement posted on its website Wednesday the strike is designed to raise awareness of the plight of those held on such a basis and demand their release.
The group says arbitrary arrest has become “the norm without legal basis,” especially for Saudi human rights activists, foreign workers and individuals who have feuds with members of the royal family.
It says it plans to begin the two-day strike on Feb. 10.
Last month, the Saudi Interior Ministry refused to grant the group permission for a sit-in in the capital to demand political reform.
January:20:2011 - 13:32
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