Lebanon maid deaths cause alarm

A lot of maids are very isolated especially as their employers often do not allow them to have mobile phones.

They have no network of support or friendship - it must be a very sorrowful and scary existence for some.

One of the biggest problems that domestic helpers encounter whilst employed in Lebanon is that they are "forbidden" to have a day off. When they do go out with their employers they sometimes forbidden to speak to any other domestic helpers. It is essential that they have a day off to meet, mingle and have some contact with friends. They are often locked in homes all day. Contact with the outside world is essential to ensure that these poor girls do not lapse into depression and a state of poor mental health.

There are some wonderful Lebanese employers that treat their domestic helpers as part of the family unit which is the way it should be. Not all Lebanese are guilty of treating their domestic helpers as slaves but the small minority that do give a bad name to all Lebanese as we are seeing in this discussion.

There are times when these poor girls arrive to Lebanon already with mental health problems. There was a case recently of a newly hired eithiopian maid that threw a small child off the balcony and then jumped herself in the middle of night. She had taken the child out of her bed whilst she slept. She has only been in the country for a couple of days. The employers has contacted the agency saying that they felt that the domestic helper didnt seem right in the head and had planned to send her back to the agency. It really was tragic.

Are these girls assessed to check their state of mind before leaving their mother countries??? I highly doubt it.

The agencies that bring these poor girls in foreign countries to work should have more responsibility regarding their welfare. There should be regular check ups once they have started employment with families. Their day off should be enforced or they should have the right to leave and change employer. Protection of these girls is essential. Employers that violate the rights of the contract of their domestic helpers should be blacklisted and not allowed bring in any more domestic workers.

I think the answer is for all maids to be registered with a government agency. The sponsor pays the agreed salary to the government body and they in turn either save it for the maid or send it to whereever she wishes. If a sponsor misses a payment, the maid is removed to a half way house..

...in the Middle East, I mean.

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

I wonder why I dont see such thing here hmmm...

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(Lebanon A piece of Heaven on Earth)

I;m as my profile says.. My father used to beleive that we should voice our concerns to the government , so I went with him on Anti-Vietnam marches..

When it came to Greenham Common, Trident and South Africa, I went alone..

i need a trip to bed right now am feeling sleepy

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 i love it :P

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Ah, get lost Da you spoilsport.

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YOOOOOOOOU ALL or will damn britexpat :/

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How old are you dude? You did not answer my reply to you in this forum?

I hear St. Patrick was an Englishman!"

Think I'll start calling you Sheikha ;)

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Gypsy is a Canadian and part of the commonwealth. She will never go against her British cousin..

Of course, miladuuhh Alexuuhhh, *bobs a curtsey*

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Gypsy said:

f the pay is technically going in to the accounts, but the maids are still slaves??

Seek him girl! seek him girl!! go get him girl!!

I got my shot gun ready for your favorite topic!!! LOL

I hear St. Patrick was an Englishman!"

Actually, whilst in Saudi , I worked with a couple of Embassies to address this problem..

My suggestion was that the sponsor should pay into an insurance policy for the maid.. If she has to leave the country, then then this policy would pay for the ticket and one month salary.

All maids should be registered with the embassy and the embassy's welfare section should either call the maid once a month or have access to her for spot checks whenever nessesary..

It's OK, Aluxa, no offence taken ;)

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I think that you're idea is good Britexpat, but what do you do if the pay is technically going in to the accounts, but the maids are still slaves??

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

Good in theory Britexpat, but difficult in practice. How does the UK deal with such exploitation?

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I expect better then them as well.. Some day...

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No Da, that's a nickname Alexa uses for me ;) And, no, you can't call me that too.

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Britexpat said:

I don't know how old you are, but times have definitely changed.. I recall going on marches against the Vietnam war and also apartheid in South Africa..

How are old are you? You must around 60?

You must be one of those iconic hippies from the cold war....I'll bet you, you have a nice collection of music from Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Marley, The beetles and many other musical legends.

I hear St. Patrick was an Englishman!"

So far their track record for helping even their own population isn't that sparkling IMHO. But I expect better from them as time goes on.

Embassies basically say go back to your sponsor or if they wish to make a court case they have to go and live in the detention center until it comes to court. sometimes they fly home but more often at their own expense.

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Its a little better better than "Man Servant" which was used in the old days..

I think the answer is for all maids to be registered with a government agency. The sponsor pays the agreed salary to the government body and they in turn either save it for the maid or send it to whereever she wishes. If a sponsor misses a payment, the maid is removed to a half way house..

Another thing I agree with you with D. The embassy's here do nothing and neither does the Human Rights Association for that matter.

Visit www.qatarhappening.com

is that some alien?

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I believe here the current way is to abscond or go to one's embassy but they don't help too much.

And while we're at it, we should ban the use of the word 'houseboy'. It is an embarassing and demeaning throwback to colonial times.

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QR 1600 seems quite low, although I acknowledge it is more than many are paid. Was that here in Qatar?

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I agree with you 100% DG, we just need to decide what the best way to do this is. Personally I think an independent welfare agency should be set up to offer shelter to these women and check on all sponsored maids/houseboys, as well as petition the government for a set salary. However, how do you do this in the case of illegal immigrants who nobody knows is in the country?

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Yes, sad but true. But we should keep speaking up against such things. To do nothing is a silent agreement.

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DG, I think as long as their are people to take advantage of, then people will take advantage of them. It's a sad fact of humanity.

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Qr 800...I recently employed someone who, in her previous position for a British family, was paid QR 550 per month for working all hours.

I agree, live-in maids can be hugely taken advantage of. It would be much better for them to have set hours and be accomodated elsewhere.

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Exploitation is rife in this day and age, countries with poor job prospects are easy prey for those who wish to exploit them. Laws need to be changed to pay people set minimum wages and maximum working hours and days without a break. An existence as a slave is no better than the poverty that many of these people come from.

Yup. I know lots of people like that brit.

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A colleague has a live in maid and pays her 800 QR a month..

He blows more than that on a family dinner out, but complains if a payrise for the maid is mentioned..

I have to agree with you PH about no live-in maids. These women don't get days off, they work 24/7 it's simply not fair or humane.

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The instances we are talking about, the maids don't have access to phone, let alone internet..

One other thing that gets me irritated is when maids are made to wear uniform outside the house.. This to me is another sign of man's inhumanity to man..

Is it not possible to stand up together as people both religious and non religious by way of petitioning the goverments to uphold the rights of maids.

Their should be no live in Maids! Each one should have seperate accom. then the owners. Facilities for support and help in their job. And visits by a social worker of sorts who can ensure that decent working standards are maintained!

I mean if people can afford to employ a maid then surely they can afford to add some money for better working standards!

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi

What're the chances that both parties read the internet to hear these events or point of views or even the shock experiences other than having to tell them to each of their friends?

"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

There's definitely something wrong when people feel they have no way out other than to commit suicide. There are obviously so many cruel employers out there enslaving people.

I always remember our neighbours when I lived in the US. They employed Mexican illegal immigrants and treated them worse than dogs. But when we said we would cointact the authorities they were so scared about losing their jobs, for a long time they preferred to put up with it.

Awful.

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BMW's innit? LOL

"Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day." Melody Beattie

cars have a higher value than washing machines!!

Spot ON!

I think the sponsors need to be taught that the maids are people too. Right now I think they're viewed with the same level of compassion as the washing machine...actually people might value their washing machine more.

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Britexpat I hear you but in my opinion thats no excuse. These maids especially the one's who are being tortured dont even know their basic rights. Their embassies owe them the duty of creating some kind of awareness as to their rights, of providing them some sort of a social network because what happens is a maid is shipped off to her employers and then she feels totally isolated. Add pressure, torture, a feeling of utter hopelessness and we wonder why there is such an alarming rate.

Lets be honest, perhaps it the governments who feel that they have better ways of spending their cash rather than set up a system to support its "vulnerable" citizens in foreign countries. Take Ethiopia for example, they'd rather spend their money on the war in Somalia.

"Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day." Melody Beattie

What you say is very hard to do, unless the embassy makes regular visits to check the situation of each maid. I can

I can only speak of examples I have noted in Saudi..

The maids arrive in country and are usally "signed for" and taken away by their sponsor.

I have witnessed cases of maids being locked in by their sponsor and not having any means of communication to the outside world..

Many a time, they wouldn't know how to , or who to contact.

Its a very difficult situation..

Doctora, maybe just maybe some of us are working and have only just seen this thread. Besides a lot of people are out and about today being the last day of the weekend. *sigh*

Iv read about a Sri Lankan maid who swallowed needles in a bid to commit suicide. There must be something wrong with the society's treatment of the maids, something wrong with the coping mechanisms of these maids, something wrong with the Lebanese government but most of all it is the governments of these maids who must do more to protect their citizens.

Very sad situation.

"Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day." Melody Beattie

As far as abuse to maids is concerned and abuse to workers is concerned, the first action we can take is to look at ourselves. Those of us who employ "workers" should treat them like human beings and ensure their rights are upheld..

100% with you

I don't know how old you are, but times have definitely changed.. I recall going on marches against the Vietnam war and also apartheid in South Africa..

People used to stand up and make their voices heard..Not any more..

A lot has to do with governments and the media now.. If a person speaks out, he/she is usually tagged an anarchist.

Society has also changed. We have bec ome more insular and selfish.

As far as abuse to maids is concerned and abuse to workers is concerned, the first action we can take is to look at ourselves. Those of us who employ "workers" should treat them like human beings and ensure their rights are upheld..

Coelacanth : It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare, it's because we don't dare that makes things difficult!

I guess you're right,

Sadly this thread died out and no one is really interested ......

and here they they accused me of being a hypocrite!!!!!!!

No, Doctora...the mouse did!

It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare, it's because we don't dare that makes things difficult!

Human Rights Watch is calling for an investigation into the reasons behind the deaths of at least 95 migrant maids since January 2007

( Britexpat ) said Yes , you're right there.. My point was that this type of thing is not restricted to Qatar , which we've focused on the last couple of days, but also exists in other countries in the region.

I was wondering where are QL human right activists to preach their opinions about this DISGUSTING and INHUMANE treatment of domestic laborers??? or did the cat eat their tongues!!!!!!

why do we employ fellow human beings to come into our homes and make them do jobs that we ourslves are not willing to do?

I have never understood nor do i respect parents who hire maids and let them wear pyjama looking outfits to look after thier children-if i was to pay someone else to lok after my son, i wld want and treat her well so that hse looks happy and is cheerful company for him-"do unto others as you want them to do unto you"

maybe?

I keep on wondering why a nation would subject her citizens to this kind of hardship? Why did they allow this ladies to go out and take up this kind of job in the first place despites the various feedbacks they are getting from different zones? Their Govts should do something about this and provide employment for these people at home instead of them going out and facing unnecessary maltreatment from their so called employers.

In Roman times , slaves were used as gladiators..

In Greek times, slaves powered warships chained to the oars.

Mostly slaves were taken as prizes in battle, when one side defeated the other..

I think the slavery we usually speak of - remember Kunta Kintae? is more to do with Human Trafficking and thus takes a different line..

ACtually magic dragon is spot on about slavery.

The ill forms of slavery as we know it is somewhat of a modern invention. In ancient times including greek, roman, and arab empires slaves were treated very well and almost always had an option to buy their way out of slavery.

Maryum : Umm Hasan bint Abdullah Alshabrawishi

Thank you.. I agree with you fully..

It seems that the lot os a maid is not an easy one..More needs to be done to protect them..

KH: The world has around 200 countries...is it realistic to xpect a single report to cover domestic conditions in all of em? I'm sure there are reports for other countries too, but its jus that the topic in this one HAPPENS TO BE Lebanon...

I'm sorry, but you've lost me.. The article cl3early states.."Many of the women face abuse and low wages or die trying to escape from employers who lock them up, HRW said.

"All those involved... need to ask themselves what is driving these women to kill themselves or risk their lives trying to escape from high buildings," said HRW Senior Researcher Nadim Houry. "

This is clearly relating to Lebanon and the Lebanese should take responsibility..

suicides are everywhere and for many reason. I was talking about the report being incomplete and inaccurate. it looks like sort of blablabla.

such a report should be addressing the issue of domestic helpers conditions all around the world and not only in Lebanon.

worker personal problems cannot be dumped on their employer or the country where they are working.

During the year 2000. On a certain day. 10s of Ethiopians committed suicide in Lebanon and am sure in many parts of the world. Those do have a religious belief that they should die before completing the year 2000. Shall Lebanon or the Lebanese be blamed for that?

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MD:Why does he need to start with any one p'ticular case if hez concerned? He can start with any, right?

And talkin abt 'Arab Malaise', maltreatment of domestic workers hav been happening time n again and if u chk out the HRW u can see that it is one of the major titles under which nations in this part of the world are featured in their reports.

KH:Donno abt the statistics, but even ifthere wer twice as many immigrants livin there, it wud be shocking. May be you din mean it that way, but the question whether one woman committing suicide is all sounds highly indifferent and inhumane to me.

Someone driven to a point where he/she wants to take their own life is not a scenario at which I wud ask "Only 1/week? is that all?"

As u rightly pointed out, there are suicide in all other places too including where they come from but here we are talkin abt suicides in a very narrow, specific segment('maids' from 'X' country working for 'Y' nationals) and in this context it sounds even more alarming.

Yes , you're right there.. My point was that this type of thing is not restricted to Qatar , which we've focused on the last couple of days, but also exists in other countries in the region.

brit, not that title, your title "An Arab Malaise?"

You do me an injustice...

the title is exactly as the article..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7582410.stm

I don't think you are honest now, brit. If you are concerned about every dead then why didn't you start with little Mariam who died today in Dafour because she had nothing to eat? The title of your thread is "intentional".

I guess, you know very well what you're doing.

Are you agrieved because you are Lebanese, or do you really belive that the deaths can be dismissed without concern..

These are human being s you are talking about. To me, even one death is a death too many..

is that all?

honestly I find this HRW report very funny. it did not mention the population of the foreign workers in Lebanon. They are at least 500,000.

Is that 1/week too much? in normal situations, even in their home country there are more suicide deaths cause of depresseion, abuse by their parents or husbands, besdies deaths due to bad health care.

Let them ban maids from travelling to Lebanon. Is that better? I know about many maids who are under-age and get fake birthdate on their passport to travel and work.

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Honestly, brit, I'm not into "holy" stuff at all. But you may read a history book about slavery and you will surely find that Arab slaves had all chances to climb up the social hierarchy. There are known examples of Arab slaves becoming generals and so on.

...at your comments sometimes! :/

I think you've been watching too many holywood movies..

A slave is a slave, just by its terminology alone..

gawd, I'b be forced to jump off a balcony living with lebanese 24/7.......

It's not an "Arab" malaise. It's a malaise of countries with under-developed Human Rights, Labor Laws, and corrupt police forces. "Arab" slaves used to be treated well in the past unlike "Western" slaves.

Their emabssies must do more! as the host's nations don't seem to be putting the matter right!