Arab News Reports Maids Running Away From Their Saudi Employers...What Could The Reason Be?

This unbelievable editorial in the Arab News, may give our readers some insight into this wonderful kingdom which is referred to as our ally, by the U. S. Government.

Dated December 8, 2005
The problem of maids running away is not a new one but it has increased lately to a shocking level. Columnists have written about it in newspapers and it has been widely discussed on TV. In my opinion, one thing that leads maids to run away is the absence of rules and punishments applicable to those who flee their employers. This absence is an encouragement as well as a motive for maids to run away.

Recent police raids all over the Kingdom have shown the size of the problem. Thousands of maids have been arrested in Makkah alone. The police are aware of the reasons for the problem and of its negative impact on society — but there is, as yet, no explanation about why the problem is growing worse.

Citizens are quick to be blamed because many of them hire illegal maids at low salaries to do house work. Government authorities are also blamed for other reasons. Reporting that a maid has run away from her sponsor is a long and complicated procedure. Maids do not face any punishment if they are caught.

Citizens who have hired the maids face a financial loss when the maid runs away even though she may be working illegally elsewhere and making money doing so. Recruitment offices here and abroad make profits from runaway maids. Many people believe that these offices play a role in encouraging maids to run away from their sponsors after three months.

Some say that injustice is the main reason for maids running away. I say that is sometimes true but also sometimes not true. There are certainly cases of abuse and non-payment of salaries. The authorities are usually on the side of the maid rather than the sponsor. They force sponsors to get signatures of maids saying that they have received their financial dues before being given an exit only visa. Surely it would be fair for runaway maids to pay damages to their sponsors before they are deported.

The solution is to be fair with all sides. If not, then citizens will feel victimized and will break rules and maids will feel safe in breaking rules because there are no punishments.



link here:http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=74357&d=20&m=12&y=2005