Good news! The Kingdom of the Sands stops issuing visas for Filipino Domestic Helpers. Effective 2 July 2011, the Kingdom will stop issuing visas for household helpers. The Kingdom imposed the deployment ban to protest the monthly wage increase from USD. 200 to USD. 400 being sought by the Philippine government for Filipino maids.
I think that this ban is a blessing in disguise. Our maids are the most susceptible to abuse and rape. They’re hardly treated as human beings by their employers too. I’ve been advocating for this ban and finally, it happened. The ban did not come from us but from the Saudi government directly. I hope that our government will also stop deployment of Domestic Helpers to other GCC States. I’ve also heard a lot of horror stories from these countries and I think that it’s about time to put a stop on this.
Our government should send out skills workers instead. Skilled workers whose employers are companies (not individuals) are in better situation than the domestic workers. The companies are also under the Labor Office so abuse skilled workers can anytime file a complaint. In the case of the Domestics, they’re under the jurisdiction of the Prince. The Prince is either the Governor or Mayor of the Province or City.
We may lose remittance of the domestics but I think it’s all worth it. The government has the duty to protect its citizens. The increase in number of runaway maids in the Kingdom is already alarming. I think it’s that the ban is in the right timing. If we’re smart enough, we can make this ban work for our advantage.
I think that this ban is a blessing in disguise. Our maids are the most susceptible to abuse and rape. They’re hardly treated as human beings by their employers too. I’ve been advocating for this ban and finally, it happened. The ban did not come from us but from the Saudi government directly. I hope that our government will also stop deployment of Domestic Helpers to other GCC States. I’ve also heard a lot of horror stories from these countries and I think that it’s about time to put a stop on this.
Our government should send out skills workers instead. Skilled workers whose employers are companies (not individuals) are in better situation than the domestic workers. The companies are also under the Labor Office so abuse skilled workers can anytime file a complaint. In the case of the Domestics, they’re under the jurisdiction of the Prince. The Prince is either the Governor or Mayor of the Province or City.
We may lose remittance of the domestics but I think it’s all worth it. The government has the duty to protect its citizens. The increase in number of runaway maids in the Kingdom is already alarming. I think it’s that the ban is in the right timing. If we’re smart enough, we can make this ban work for our advantage.
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