The Labor Ministry warned Saudi sponsors and employers that abusing domestic workers is punishable by law, with penalties that include imprisonment. According to Ahmed Mansour Al-Zamil, deputy minister for labor affairs, employers who fail to respect the rights of domestic workers or deliberately delay the payment of their salaries would be blacklisted and banned from future recruitment. The ministry said that many unscrupulous employers have been exploiting their foreign workers’ unfamiliarity with their legal rights under the Saudi labor law.
Indonesia has lifted its five-month ban on the recruitment of domestic workers for Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi Arabian National Recruiting Committee (SANARCOM) chair, Waleed Al-Suwaidan, an agreement has been reached with Indonesia to settle the issue. Based on the new agreement, Indonesian domestic workers would receive SR600 monthly salary and be entitled to one paid day off per week. Indonesian drivers, in turn, would receive a monthly salary of SR800 and have the same day off benefit.
A Filipino worker, Cora Nacional, recruited by an employment agency to work at the Al-Ansari Specialist Hospital as a janitor, arrived in Saudi Arabia on 10 July. However, three days after her arrival in Yanbu, her employer allegedly ordered her to work instead as a domestic worker for his sister-in-law. Nacional then asked her employer to just send her back to the Philippines if he could not give her back her hospital job. Neither the employer nor the agency was willing to provide her a return ticket. This prompted the Pusong Mamon Task Force to report Nacional’s case to the Philippine Embassy and raise money for her air ticket and some pocket money with the help of some concerned OFWs.
Visiting Philippine Vice-President Noli de Castro encouraged OFWs in Saudi Arabia to save enough money while working abroad in order to buy a house and lot in the Philippines. De Castro, who is also the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the highest policymaking and coordinating body on shelter concerns, urged OFWs to avail of housing loans and other programs being provided by the government.
Indian worker, Rizwan Abdul Nabi has refused to sign a declaration prepared by his employer, Khaled Al-Abbass Al-Telmesani, which absolves the latter of all liabilities. Contrary to what the declaration stated that Abdul Nabi had received all the salaries and benefits due him, Al-Telmesani has not paid the worker anything. An investigation into Al-Telmesani’s dealings with laborers conducted by the Arab News revealed a pattern of non-payment of wages and labor law violations. Abdul Nabi is set to meet with the deputy governor of the Eastern Province regarding his case.
According to the US Embassy, an American delegation would soon be visiting Saudi Arabia to discuss the planned repatriation of Saudi detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US authorities recently turned over three Saudi detainees to the Kingdom, leaving 121 others still in detention. The delegation also plans to visit Afghanistan. Saudis and Afghans make up majority of 510 detainees at Guantanamo.
Saudis and expatriates alike lamented the death of King Fahd on 1 August. The former king was described as the leader who modernized Saudi Arabia while at the same time preserving the Kingdom’s customs, traditions and Islamic values. Mourners have expressed optimism that King Fahd’s legacy would be continued by his successor, King Abdullah.
Sources: Ali Al-Migbali, “Kingdom, Indonesia iron out maid flap," Arab News, 1 August 2005; Habib Shaikh, “US to repatriate Saudi detainees," Khaleej Times, 1 August 2005; Essam Al-Ghalib and Abdul Maqsood Mirza, “Expats react with shock, surprise," Arab News, 2 August 2005; Rodolfo Estimo Jr., “OFWs join mourning for Fahd, express optimism for new king," Arab News, 3 August 2005; Rodolfo Estimo Jr., “Save money and build your own house, De Castro exhorts OFWs," Arab News, 5 August 2005; Essam Al-Ghalib, “Indian employee stands firm as labor row takes twist," Arab News, 9 August 2005; Raffy Osumo, “Yanbu Pinoys raise money to send distressed OFW home," Arab News, 11 August 2005; Razan Baker and Manal Quota, “Workers unaware of labor laws robbed of time, cash by bosses," Arab News, 14 August 2005; PK Abdul Ghafour, “Ministry warns of jail term for abuse of maids," Arab News, 15 August 2005