Report: 987 'distressed' Pinay maids assisted by housemaids center in Riyadh
At least 987 Filipino women are among more than 24,000 helpers that benefited from the assistance extended by a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia government facility for distressed housemaids in Riyadh, a Saudi-based news site reported Wednesday.
The housemaids were sent from King Khalid International Airport to the Center for Housemaids Affairs in Riyadh so far this year, according to a report on Arab News.
Citing a study by the center, the Arab News report said there have been 11,195 runaway maids so far this year, a 46-percent increase over the same period last year.
It said Ethiopian maids accounted for the most cases with 3,379, followed by Indonesians with 2,985, and Sri Lankans with 1,940.
There were 1,030 cases involving Kenyans, while Filipinos placed fifth with 987. Other cases involved maids from Comoros, Ghana and Senegal.
Center director Tariq Al-Zahrani said the facility helps maids whose sponsors do not appear on their arrival at the airport, along with runaway maids referred from police stations or their embassies for deportation.
He said the center helps maids who do not want to work for their sponsors and those who seek refuge at their embassies.
The maids are first sent to the center to complete their deportation formalities.
Maids arrested by police patrols, the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, or detained following complaints from sponsors are also sent to the center.
But maids who have claims to be settled will have to supply the address or telephone number of their sponsors.
If they cannot give such details they will be kept in the center for seven days before being deported.
Organized criminal groups
Al-Zahrani was quoted in the report as saying he suspected some organized criminal gangs encouraged maids to run away upon landing at the airport or while they were being sent from one place to another.
He said a maid would not be able to find a shelter and job the moment she leaves her legal employer without a well-organized gang helping her.
The Arab News report said the maids are also prompted to run away because of homesickness, physical or mental diseases and a desire to get higher wages.
Some of them are admitted to mental hospitals, he said. — LBG, GMA News
The housemaids were sent from King Khalid International Airport to the Center for Housemaids Affairs in Riyadh so far this year, according to a report on Arab News.
Citing a study by the center, the Arab News report said there have been 11,195 runaway maids so far this year, a 46-percent increase over the same period last year.
It said Ethiopian maids accounted for the most cases with 3,379, followed by Indonesians with 2,985, and Sri Lankans with 1,940.
There were 1,030 cases involving Kenyans, while Filipinos placed fifth with 987. Other cases involved maids from Comoros, Ghana and Senegal.
Center director Tariq Al-Zahrani said the facility helps maids whose sponsors do not appear on their arrival at the airport, along with runaway maids referred from police stations or their embassies for deportation.
He said the center helps maids who do not want to work for their sponsors and those who seek refuge at their embassies.
The maids are first sent to the center to complete their deportation formalities.
Maids arrested by police patrols, the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, or detained following complaints from sponsors are also sent to the center.
But maids who have claims to be settled will have to supply the address or telephone number of their sponsors.
If they cannot give such details they will be kept in the center for seven days before being deported.
Organized criminal groups
Al-Zahrani was quoted in the report as saying he suspected some organized criminal gangs encouraged maids to run away upon landing at the airport or while they were being sent from one place to another.
He said a maid would not be able to find a shelter and job the moment she leaves her legal employer without a well-organized gang helping her.
The Arab News report said the maids are also prompted to run away because of homesickness, physical or mental diseases and a desire to get higher wages.
Some of them are admitted to mental hospitals, he said. — LBG, GMA News
We welcome healthy discussions and friendly debate! Please click Flag to alert us of a comment that may be abusive or threatening. Read our full comment policy here.
Comments Powered by Disqus
Top Stories
advertisement
Talk of the web
Related photos
advertisement
advertisement