stef Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Saudi bans domestic workers from Indonesia, PhilippinesSaudi Arabia announced Wednesday it would stop granting work permits to domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, following hiring conditions imposed by the Asian countries.*The ministry of labour said it would "stop issuing work visas to bring domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, effective from Saturday" due to "the terms of recruitment announced by the two countries," according to a statement carried by state news agency SPA."The ministry's decision coincides with its great efforts to open new channels to bring domestic workers from other sources," said the statement in English quoting the ministry's spokesman Hattab bin Saleh al-Anzi.Last week Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denounced the beheading in Saudi Arabia of an Indonesian maid and accused Riyadh of breaking the "norms and manners" of international relations.His comments signalled Indonesia's growing anger over the treatment of its manual labourers in the Gulf countries, after a spate of cases of abuse and killings.Ruyati binti Sapubi, 54, was beheaded on June 18 after she was convicted of killing her Saudi employer, prompting Indonesia to recall its ambassador in Saudi Arabia for "consultations."Indonesia also announced a moratorium on sending migrant workers to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Indonesians toil as maids and labourers.Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have also clashed over the working conditions of Filipina domestic workers in the oil-rich kingdom.Earlier this year the Philippines asked Saudi Arabia to guarantee higher pay for Filipina housemaids but the request was turned down.The Philippines demanded $400 in monthly wages for for housemaids but Saudi authorities offered a base monthly salary of $210, Filipino labour official Carlos Cao had told AFP in Manila in May.Manila had also demanded proof that that Saudi households employing Filipina housemaids would pay and provide humane working conditions.Rights groups say millions of mostly Asian domestic workers are regularly exposed to physical and financial abuse in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states due to poor or absent labour laws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stef Posted June 30, 2011 Author Posted June 30, 2011 Philippines to query Saudis on maids 'ban'The Philippines is to ask for clarification from Saudi Arabia after it announced it would stop granting work permits for Filipino domestic staff, President Benigno Aquino's spokesman said Thursday.*Philippines officials will also look for other markets for workers in the event that the freeze, announced in Riyadh on Wednesday, is put into full effect, Aquino spokesman Edwin Lacierda told a news conference.Saudi authorities announced the new policy, which also affects maids from Indonesia, after failing to agree on hiring conditions imposed by the Asian countries.Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz "is sending a labour attache to Saudi Arabia to verify these things", Lacierda said.Some 1.3 million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, a key market for the nine million-strong overseas-based Filipino work force.There had been rising concern in Manila that the dispute could impact on the economy of the Philippines, where a fifth of the workforce is jobless or looking for more work."There are other countries that would be ready to absorb those that cannot be accommodated by Saudi Arabia, so the Secretary of Labour already anticipated that," Lacierda said.However he declined to provide details, saying Baldoz was set to issue a formal statement later Thursday.The Aquino government had its demand for higher pay and greater protection for its women workers turned down by Saudi Arabia in May.Rights groups say millions of mostly Asian domestic workers are regularly exposed to physical and financial abuse in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states due to poor or non-existent labour laws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call me bubba Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Why would some people want to live/work there?1. I have read MANY reports of the house workers, being mistreated. not paid,injured, sexually assaulted .even MURDERED. on this it seems that the government is either "trying to protect" the workers or getting "GREEDY" ,2.The KSA is not to well known on "workers or Human"rights.3.who knows that this may signal a new change on OFW'S on the destinations on where they will work. and save some ones life from an "abusive" employer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Sibbick Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Why would some people want to live/work there?1.I have read MANY reports of the house workers, being mistreated. not paid,injured, sexually assaulted .even MURDERED.on this it seems that the government is either "trying to protect" the workers or getting "GREEDY" ,Me too!I was told by a Filipina that worked there that she had to wear the burqua full time. Even in the house and she was not permitted to even look out the window. She never went outside, except for the trip home to the Philippines. She never had a day off the whole time she was there. She came home with no money at all. Was never able to send any money to the family in the Philippines. So, in fact it cost her money in the end because she had to pay the agent and the airfare. Regards: Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekimswish Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Besides the salary being crap ($200?!), employers routinely withold a worker's salary for months and months at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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