Somali Domestic Workers At Risk As Ramadan Departures Dawn, Human Right watch warns

Human Right Watch has warned  that Somali domestic workers in Saudi Arabia might face more cases of overwork and abuse as the  month of fasting usually brings an increase in the demand for domestic workers as employers often host large iftar meals to break their fast.

Under the new agreement between Somalia  and Saudi Arabia, Somalia is sending between 600 and 1,000 domestic workers to Saudi Arabia in time for Ramadan.

HRW said that Over the last decade it has documented a plethora of abuses against domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, as well as other Gulf states.

“Domestic workers report that employers confiscate their passports to keep them from leaving and make them work excessive hours with no rest breaks and no days off,” said the group.

According to a statement by the Human Right group, Many domestic workers said that the employers don’t pay them their full salaries, if at all, that employers won’t let them leave the house, and often leave them without adequate food. In some cases, the employers abuse domestic workers psychologically, physically, or sexually.

The HWR noted that major gaps in the Gulf countries’ labor laws coupled with unethical recruitment in home countries foster exploitation and violence.

“Domestic workers need the consent of the employer if they want to change jobs, and those who leave before the end of their contracts can be imprisoned, fined, or deported,” reads the statement.

Huuman Right Watch said Steps taken by the Saudi government to address these problems have been ineffective.

“An online Saudi web portal, Musaned, set up to help address domestic worker grievances, doesn’t allow them to file complaints online and doesn’t even provide the addresses of labor offices where they can file complaints,”  lambasted by the group.

The Somali Deputy Labour Minister, Osman Libah Ibrahim, recently said  that the government plans to ensure its embassy in Saudi Arabia registers new arrivals and stays in contact with them.

Over the years, several countries of origin have pushed for better working conditions for their citizens who go to Saudi Arabia to work. Some governments – most recently Indonesia and Uganda – have banned their citizens from working in Saudi Arabia altogether.