Slavery triangle in Kuwait
Kuwait Times, November 26 and 28, 2005
By Muna AI-Fuzai
(Part One)
Dear readers,
I am extremely sorry and ashamed to say that such misery is actually happening in Kuwait now. But, as a Kuwait writer I have a message to my society, which I will not hesitate or fear to deliver. It is the hapless scream of many Filipino housemaids or as the people call them Kadama or Shakala.
There is a deadly triangle (the maid - the sponsor - the recruitment agency). They are all contracted in a complicated relationship based on slavery and not partnership. This human message today is an open letter to the guilty fronts seeking salvation. This is the twenty first century and slavery is no longer acceptable under any name. That is that.
The information in this article is real facts and not illusions. I'm thankful for those who made my two part article possible. I will present some real stories and painful memories that some will not accept or digest or believe. But, the truth is always hard. Some time you need to operate to heal. Good wishes or diplomacy is not enough any more.
There is a daily abuse of many housemaids. What is happening in this large community and what are their common troubles? What is happening behind the fancy high gates and the locked doors in the Kuwaiti houses? Would the new labour law be able to bring an end to this dilemma? What means or methods can be used to implement the articles of this law? How can we interpret this law into real and daily acts? What is the expected reaction of many Kuwaiti families who don't regard most national laws because they have wasta?
The runaway maids are single poor women who came from far away places seeking a better future — not to be abused and tortured or burned or raped and humiliated by strangers. Unfortunately, this was the better future or shall I say a typical end for a slave with no rights in time of absence of any law — even the humanitarian ones.
The common and repeated complaint against many Kuwaiti families is the verbal abuse as well as the physical one. I know many Kuwaitis — even the young ones — using bad gestures and improper words against their parents or teachers or relatives. So why not the maids! She will not receive an exceptional treatment. Another common complaint is the overwork. There is no time duration for the housemaids working hours or any rest time. No day off. No talking on the phone and many other things. Many "No' but few Yes'.
The mistreatment is not occurring in many Kuwaiti houses only but also some Arab expatriates are to be blamed too. There are several complaints against some Arab (sponsor) expatriates who lock their fridges or food cabins to cut the maid's access to it? Can you bear the fact that some Arab sponsors actually count the eggs and the fruits in order to forbid the Shakala from exceeding her food limitation?!!
How true the runaway maids accusations against some sponsors who do not allow their maids to have enough food or give her salary because the Arab sponsor don't have money? Why did he take a house maid if he could not afford to pay her? Does that mean she has to keep cleaning and cooking for him and his family for free? Or what?
The number of runaway maids during last Ramadan was 20 housemaids a day. What does this number tell you? The answer is simple.
(Part Two)
Kuwait Times, November 26 and 28, 2005
By Muna AI-Fuzai
(Part One)
Dear readers,
I am extremely sorry and ashamed to say that such misery is actually happening in Kuwait now. But, as a Kuwait writer I have a message to my society, which I will not hesitate or fear to deliver. It is the hapless scream of many Filipino housemaids or as the people call them Kadama or Shakala.
There is a deadly triangle (the maid - the sponsor - the recruitment agency). They are all contracted in a complicated relationship based on slavery and not partnership. This human message today is an open letter to the guilty fronts seeking salvation. This is the twenty first century and slavery is no longer acceptable under any name. That is that.
The information in this article is real facts and not illusions. I'm thankful for those who made my two part article possible. I will present some real stories and painful memories that some will not accept or digest or believe. But, the truth is always hard. Some time you need to operate to heal. Good wishes or diplomacy is not enough any more.
There is a daily abuse of many housemaids. What is happening in this large community and what are their common troubles? What is happening behind the fancy high gates and the locked doors in the Kuwaiti houses? Would the new labour law be able to bring an end to this dilemma? What means or methods can be used to implement the articles of this law? How can we interpret this law into real and daily acts? What is the expected reaction of many Kuwaiti families who don't regard most national laws because they have wasta?
The runaway maids are single poor women who came from far away places seeking a better future — not to be abused and tortured or burned or raped and humiliated by strangers. Unfortunately, this was the better future or shall I say a typical end for a slave with no rights in time of absence of any law — even the humanitarian ones.
The common and repeated complaint against many Kuwaiti families is the verbal abuse as well as the physical one. I know many Kuwaitis — even the young ones — using bad gestures and improper words against their parents or teachers or relatives. So why not the maids! She will not receive an exceptional treatment. Another common complaint is the overwork. There is no time duration for the housemaids working hours or any rest time. No day off. No talking on the phone and many other things. Many "No' but few Yes'.
The mistreatment is not occurring in many Kuwaiti houses only but also some Arab expatriates are to be blamed too. There are several complaints against some Arab (sponsor) expatriates who lock their fridges or food cabins to cut the maid's access to it? Can you bear the fact that some Arab sponsors actually count the eggs and the fruits in order to forbid the Shakala from exceeding her food limitation?!!
How true the runaway maids accusations against some sponsors who do not allow their maids to have enough food or give her salary because the Arab sponsor don't have money? Why did he take a house maid if he could not afford to pay her? Does that mean she has to keep cleaning and cooking for him and his family for free? Or what?
The number of runaway maids during last Ramadan was 20 housemaids a day. What does this number tell you? The answer is simple.
(Part Two)
There is something wrong and inhumane against the weakest part, which is the housemaid. The whole operation of bringing any woman, as a maid from her country is unfair for her.
The recruitment agency knows all information about her education level and social status. But what does she know about her sponsors and their own educational and social status? If she was to be treated fairly then she must be aware of what to expect and say 'no' if she is not pleased or satisfied with what she was informed by the representative agency in her country. The available information about any sponsors to the maids are zero. The housemaid's contracts are like lottery game rather than a decent business contract.
The sponsor or the master is usually the lucky one. He has all the right to be familiar with his coming kadama with a recent picture too. Above all if he did not like her for any reason he can send her to another house or return her to the slavery agency for another master. The worst is when the maid runs away and the sponsor rushes to the police station to file an absence case against her and some sponsors accuse his maid of theft to assure her capture and imprisonment. She is simply turned from a victim to an outlaw. If this is not slavery then I don't know what is this. I have no other or better name for such acts.
A recent statement by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour stated that the new labour law is ready and awaiting the final approval of the parliament for implementation.
Although the formal statements confirmed the efficiency of this new labour law with the international law, the new labour law must regard the regulations or the standards regarding the living space or the accommodation of the private sector employees such as the workers in the fast food restaurants.
Those employees are living in small rooms in dirty compounds. I’m not sure about the living space limitation for each one of them. But I hope the new law will take into consideration that such issues also must be known and clear to all.
The problem of the domestic helpers is an endless agony in Kuwait. In the last ten years it was turned from single and scattered troubles into a massive one creating more troubles for the housemaids.
Some unfortunate runaway maids found themselves involved in crimes of rape or kidnap or a false accusation by their masters. Most maids accused their sponsors of verbal abuse or sexual harassment which the masters typically either deny or accuse the maids with another charge.
The government and the parliament statements about protecting human rights in Kuwait make me feel sick. Not only it has no reality in the ground but none of these officials have the courage to admit that there is a big problem called the domestic helpers and any temporary solutions will not end this agony. The Filipino domestic helpers are confronting a serious situation that needs our assistance.
I know that human rights in Kuwait are gone with the corruption and the wasta winds. But, it is never too late. I hope my message today will reach some minds and may lead to a solution to this curse of slavery. Shut your door and start acting like a modern agency or this type of business should not be practiced.
Everybody knows that Kuwait is violating many international laws regarding human rights. The spread of wasta, bribes, and awful discrimination among the society members and others are widely spread but the Kuwaiti writers must do their best to stimulate the changes we all hope as a civilized people.
I believe that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour must not hesitate in issuing a law that may be the best for all the parties in this contract. The labour attaches in the concerned Asian embassies in Kuwait must be given the opportunity for its own comments and views regarding the final draft of the labour law.
Issuing or updating any local law is a very slow operation in Kuwait. I hope the embassies will respond to this call and the media must also inform the public with the rights of maids and others. All types of abuses are illegal. The Ministry of Education must implement new school curricula about human rights for the kids and the teenagers. I certainly believe we need the support of everyone to bring a better future for all.
munaalfuzai@kuwaittimes.net
The recruitment agency knows all information about her education level and social status. But what does she know about her sponsors and their own educational and social status? If she was to be treated fairly then she must be aware of what to expect and say 'no' if she is not pleased or satisfied with what she was informed by the representative agency in her country. The available information about any sponsors to the maids are zero. The housemaid's contracts are like lottery game rather than a decent business contract.
The sponsor or the master is usually the lucky one. He has all the right to be familiar with his coming kadama with a recent picture too. Above all if he did not like her for any reason he can send her to another house or return her to the slavery agency for another master. The worst is when the maid runs away and the sponsor rushes to the police station to file an absence case against her and some sponsors accuse his maid of theft to assure her capture and imprisonment. She is simply turned from a victim to an outlaw. If this is not slavery then I don't know what is this. I have no other or better name for such acts.
A recent statement by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour stated that the new labour law is ready and awaiting the final approval of the parliament for implementation.
Although the formal statements confirmed the efficiency of this new labour law with the international law, the new labour law must regard the regulations or the standards regarding the living space or the accommodation of the private sector employees such as the workers in the fast food restaurants.
Those employees are living in small rooms in dirty compounds. I’m not sure about the living space limitation for each one of them. But I hope the new law will take into consideration that such issues also must be known and clear to all.
The problem of the domestic helpers is an endless agony in Kuwait. In the last ten years it was turned from single and scattered troubles into a massive one creating more troubles for the housemaids.
Some unfortunate runaway maids found themselves involved in crimes of rape or kidnap or a false accusation by their masters. Most maids accused their sponsors of verbal abuse or sexual harassment which the masters typically either deny or accuse the maids with another charge.
The government and the parliament statements about protecting human rights in Kuwait make me feel sick. Not only it has no reality in the ground but none of these officials have the courage to admit that there is a big problem called the domestic helpers and any temporary solutions will not end this agony. The Filipino domestic helpers are confronting a serious situation that needs our assistance.
I know that human rights in Kuwait are gone with the corruption and the wasta winds. But, it is never too late. I hope my message today will reach some minds and may lead to a solution to this curse of slavery. Shut your door and start acting like a modern agency or this type of business should not be practiced.
Everybody knows that Kuwait is violating many international laws regarding human rights. The spread of wasta, bribes, and awful discrimination among the society members and others are widely spread but the Kuwaiti writers must do their best to stimulate the changes we all hope as a civilized people.
I believe that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour must not hesitate in issuing a law that may be the best for all the parties in this contract. The labour attaches in the concerned Asian embassies in Kuwait must be given the opportunity for its own comments and views regarding the final draft of the labour law.
Issuing or updating any local law is a very slow operation in Kuwait. I hope the embassies will respond to this call and the media must also inform the public with the rights of maids and others. All types of abuses are illegal. The Ministry of Education must implement new school curricula about human rights for the kids and the teenagers. I certainly believe we need the support of everyone to bring a better future for all.
munaalfuzai@kuwaittimes.net
posted by Ben Rivard @ 1:02 PM
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