Saudi Arabia

Minister criticises mistreatment of foreign workers

Article published on the 2008-12-29 Latest update 2008-12-30 13:43 TU

(Credit: Human Rights Watch)

Saudi Labour Minister Ghazi al-Gosaibi spoke of mistreatment of foreign workers, adding that "arrogance and racism" by Saudis towards them should be prevented, local papers reported Monday. Foreigners reportedly number 1.5 million, filling a large number of service jobs, including domestic help, compared to total Saudi population of 17 million.

The bulk of the foreign labour force are Indians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Indonesians and Bangladeshis, who work in varied fields such as construction, in household domestic work, as shop attendants, nurses and business managers.

"We should not be arrogant or racist towards those who came to serve us in our homes after we used to do everything ourselves," Gosaibi told senior Labour Ministry officials on Sunday.

The way Saudis have viewed foreigners has changed, said Gosaibi, as domestic workers have become more common than foreign doctors or teachers.

"We look at them like they have come to rob us or to corrupt our society and spread criminality, even though it is us who have brought them here," he added.

Foreign workers have few rights in Saudi Arabia, and "are exposed to egregious abuses with little or no hope of redress," according to a report put out earlier this year by NGO Human Rights Watch on domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.

Domestic workers are also subject to physical and sexual abuse, and further exploitation due to the restrictive kafala (sponsorship) system which ties employment visas to their employers, according to HRW.

"Under this system, an employer assumes responsibility for a hired migrant worker and must grant explicit permission before the worker can enter Saudi Arabia, transfer employment, or leave the country," according to the report.

"Human Rights Watch also documented numerous cases where workers were unable to escape from abusive conditions or even to return home upon completion of their contracts because their employer denied them permission to leave the country."

The minister's comments come as a privately financed television and newspaper campaign has promoted respect for foreign maids, drivers and other low-wage workers.

The campaign is funded by Jeddah-based advertising agency FullStop. Some Saudis have complained that it gives the country a bad name.