‘Dispatches’ documentary series goes under cover in Saudi Arabia to reveal the brutal reality of life for thousands of immigrant workers. A British crew follows the story of Jessica, a young Filipino woman, who travels to Saudi Arabia as a contract worker. She wants to earn more money so that her daughter may have heart surgery. Hidden cameras follow her life as she moves from family to family, is raped, beaten and forced to change her religion.
ALL VOICES — Filipino housemaids suffer “virtual slavery” at the hands of their employers in Saudi Arabia, a senior Philippine politician has said following a fact-finding mission to the kingdom, local daily Arab News reported. “The testimonies of the women in the shelters revealed in many cases a situation of virtual slavery.”
“A working day of 18 to 22 hours, constant threat of sexual abuse from employers the women called ‘maniacs’, and beatings, sometimes with the use of hot irons, by the wives of employers.” Rep. Walden Bello also said some Filipinos were being forced to sign a second contract upon arrival in Saudi Arabia with a salary significantly below the Philippine-government mandated minimum wage of 1,500 riyals ($400) per month, Arab News reported.
Bello said the Philippine Overseas Labour Offices (POLO) had rescued “scores” of Filipino women from oppressive employers, Arab News reported, adding that most of those in the shelters were victims of violence and sexual abuse. The lawmaker’s comments come at a time when the treatment of domestic workers is under close scrutiny in Saudi Arabia following numerous cases of alleged abuse.
In the most high-profile case, 23-year-old Indonesian Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa suffered stab wounds, burns to her scalp and broken bones at the hands of her female employer. Gruesome images of Sumiati lying in a Medina hospital bed made the front pages of newspapers and led television newscasts in Indonesia, sparking public anger and causing a diplomatic spat between the two countries.
A Saudi court last week sentenced a woman to three years in prison for stabbing, beating and burning Sumiati, according to local newspapers. Human rights groups have long said domestic workers face physical and financial abuse in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states due to inadequate labour laws.
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Dieks62 says
Nothing new: according to some Philly friends of mine, this has been going on for decades: most if not all of the organizations involved, are in fact dependent on these ‘dc’ Saudies for their incomes & wellbeing, are in fact their loyalists, so they will still continue turning a blind eye to this situation and for this are in fact actively accomodating the situation by continuing to sell the Saudies ’good guys’ card!
Az gal says
This is horrendous, but no surprise. The way the Muslums look at it, any woman who travels alone to another country without a male relative is a whore, and available for the taking. Especially if she is an infidel, but even if she converts, no real difference. They figure she is privileged to just be in their presence, no need to pay her. They are the superior Muslums, and she is their lowly slave, the way Mohammed, their holiest of prophets, said it should be- they are the best of peoples. The UMMAH.
So, I remember some years ago observing a family from somewhere like Kuwait, they had one of these slave/servants from India or the Philippines. She was unattractive with rotten teeth. The lady smiled like she thought she was privileged to be with these Kuwaitis, like she hit the big time. She looked really poor, I hope they paid her. Anyway, they really looked down on her & expected her to do everything. Probably even wiped their butts. The Muslum mother wouldn’t even give her baby the bottle, she had the slave do it. I thought the whole thing was disgusting & showed such a lack of maternal love. The child will grow up with more love & bonding with the slaves who fed & took care of her.
Ghulam says
Just curious what were you doing at the Kuwaitis’ home? Were they friends of yours?
Kuwait’s been a US ally since Ronald Reagan times. The first Gulf War was fought to rescue their silly little nation from the Iraqis — that’s how precious they are to America.
The State Department actively helps and encourages these tinpot kingdoms, which means they get incentives not to mend their ways.
America must spend more money on Pakistan instead of Kuwait. 🙂 .
Az gal says
Ghullam: No Kuwaiti Muslums would be friends of mine. I saw these people at a park. I may have known somebody who knew them, can’t remember. I did have an American friend who lives in Kuwait, though.
Of course Kuwait is a US ally. Oil.
I don’t think the US could get them to bend Shariah. Not as long as we need their oil.
BareNakedIslam says
We wouldn’t need Kuwaiti oil if Biden hadn’t shut down the XL pipeline and stopped fracking wherever he could.
Ghulam says
Joke is on America then.
In 1990 Kuwait was literally being ravaged by the Iraqis. Saddam’s soldiers went door-to-door hunting to rape any Kuwaiti females not hidden from plain sight. I remember those events like yesterday.
Kuwaiti men are spineless losers who actually allowed the rapes….to ensure their own survival.
Kuwaiti men are PROOF all the money in the world can’t buy you a woman’s respect and devotion. They’re the biggest cucks of them all.
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Don’t want go on a tangent though. My point is Kuwait’s very survival as a nation depends on US troops continued presence in the Persian Gulf. Last I heard Iran likes their territory…no protection and even ISIS can gobble them up.
Yet you can’t tell them to knock it off with their extreme Shariah laws.
BareNakedIslam says
I don’t disagree with that.
Classy Infidel says
Warren Buffett is the sole owner of the railway line that carries the oil from Keystone into the U.S.A. And that is why they shut down the pipeline. It is all about their friends and kickbacks.
Andrew Blackadder says
Lets us not forget that Obama BOWED to the King of Saudi Arabia while Trump was asked about why do we do so much business with these people he answered,” They buy all our weapons and if we dont sell them then they will buy them somewhere else… Catch 22…
islam truly is a Fascist Religious Cult of Satan followed by morons who cannot think for themselves.
The women and men from the Philippines go also to Singapore where they are treated like scum by wealthy Chinese, the reason they are wanted in both these countries is due to them speaking English better than all the other SE Asian Nations, a certain muslim on this site lives in Singapore and so he will excuse Saudi but not the Singaporean Chinese but I would expect that from any islamic moron…
As they truly are THE scum of this Planet…
Stewart - South Africa says
I expect that the Phillipines government is being paid for these workers. I know that this happens between South Africa and Cuba. We have here in SA, not general workers but so-called ‘professionals”, doctors and engineers and the like imported (as if we do not have those here anyway!) who receive excellent salaries and on top of that the SA Communist ANC scum-government pays their Commie bastard mates in Cuba for sending them! That some government employees and officials here also receive a kickback is a certainty!
It is officially-sanctioned human trafficking on a grand scale. Since clearly the Saudi system of law is setup to promote slavery, and the Phillipines is a shithole country in dire need of cash, payment will be happening, or the Phillipines government could certainly protect their own people by putting a stop to this well-known trafficking.
BareNakedIslam says
Stewart, I don’t think so. In fact a few years ago, the Philippines banned women from taking domestic worker jobs in the Middle East, I believe I read.
Verk says
Muslims are the scum of the earth. Saudis are less than vermin. Time to start firing up the ovens.
dragonfFIRE01 says
wow awful too bad this isn’t in the news