Women are gaining Independence and are increasingly going out to work, thus an extra hand around the house aids in maintaining the household duties.
These women come from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal and some parts of Africa, usually through agencies looking for work.
With hopes of making more money abroad to send back to their families most of these women end up in merciless conditions that would be intolerable to any human being.
In the past year two cases of maid abuse have hit international news stands, both happening in Saudi Arabia.
Sri Lankan maid Lahanda Purage Ariyawathie, aged 49, had faced 5 months of barbaric torture. During those 5 months, she only received 2 months salary. Her employers heated nails and needles and penetrated them into her body as a punishment for complaining over her work load.
After putting up with 5 months of savage torment, the distressed woman was sent back to her home town.
The second case involves an Indonesian domestic helper. Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa , aged 23, had endured beatings by her female employer and was finally admitted into hospital with broken bones and burns to her face and body which were done with an iron. She was also stabbed multiple times with pairs of scissors.
The National Centre for Human Rights here in Amman is currently investigating why hundreds of domestic workers are seeking refuges at their embassies. The main concern is unpaid salaries.
These brave women travel miles away to support their families from overseas. Many of them receive better wages and salaries as maids in the Middle East than they would as teachers and nurses in their home countries.
At least 1 maid died every week for 1 year in Lebanon.
In 2009, the Philippines received $17 billion in cash remittances from Filipinos registered as overseas workers. Another shocking statistic to go with that is every 1 in 4 children has 1 or both parents working abroad. The Philippines is sacrificing have a motherless generation to benefit it's economy.
Not everyone in the Middle East treats their help like slaves. I personally know many families who count their maids as a member of the household who sits down and has meals with them.
I cannot comprehend how anyone could torture another human being the way those two maids were, it's beyond my understanding.
All I know is I desperately hope any person who is being abused by their employer gets out before it's too late. Also, I hope these disgusting employers get the sentences they rightfully deserve.
Signed,
Very nice. It's a very very tough thing. Do you think people will become more willing to inform on their own families in cases of abuse?
ReplyDeleteIt's highly unlikely.
ReplyDeleteMost times even if you know someone in your extended family is doing something wrong, you tend to keep it to yourself to protect the family name.
The person might have to face being shunned by their own family for doing the right thing.
I got the chills reading that. I still don't understand how a human being could do that to another. Karma will be there to haunt them. We never had a housemaid but recently we have been talking as a family to have one so she can be there when most of us are out at work till 6pm. But the we always overturn the decision just in fear that we'd be unjust with the one we'd hire.
ReplyDeleteThose maids are brave and endure a lot to better their families' lives. But mistreat them and call yourself a Muslim who prays and abides by what God has sent? That is beyond my comprehension and beyond anyone for that matter. Hypocrites are on the rise..!!