DOMESTIC WORKERS ABUSE

AMNESTY LAUNCHES REPORT ON ABUSE OF KENYAN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Amnesty international Kenya has released a report highlighting severe abuse and exploitation faced by Kenyan women working as domestic workers in the gulf nation. Testimonies from over 70 women reveal forced labor, human trafficking, and conditions likened to modern slavery.

Amnesty international Kenya has released a groundbreaking report titled “locked in, left out: the hidden lives of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia”. The report highlights the harrowing realities faced by Kenyan women working as domestic workers in the gulf nation, exposing widespread abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. The report, launched in Mombasa, documents testimonies from over 70 women who recount harrowing experiences of forced labor, human trafficking, and conditions likened to modern slavery.

“They lived in awful living conditions, suffered inhumane treatment including sexual, verbal and physical assault,” expounded irungu, adding that the employers confiscate passports, phones and withheld the wages of the workers.

Amnesty international-Kenya executive director irungu Houghton stated that many women are deceived by recruiters and subjected to brutal working conditions, including confiscation of passports, withholding of wages, and verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.

‘whereas the story may be familiar to many kenyans, this is a significant piece of research that documents the testimonies of up to 70 women regarding the grueling, abusive, and discriminatory working conditions,’ said amnesty international- kenya executive director irungu houghton in Mombasa.

“Much of what we have described in this report can amount to forced labour and human trafficking. In many cases we have seen signs of what we would call modern slavery,” he added.

The report calls on the kenyan government to strengthen its bilateral labour agreements with saudi arabia to include clear, rights-based protections aligned with international standards. It also urges kenya to ratify the international labour organization convention 189 on domestic workers and dismantle the kafala sponsorship system, which amnesty claims fosters exploitation and racism.

“we call on government and agencies to create awareness and have pre-departure training on the laws,” she stated, urging the government to open consular offices and safe houses in saudi arabian cities to complement the embassy in the capital city of riyadh.

The organisation also called for the kenyan government to invest in safe houses, responsive complaint mechanisms, and enhanced consular services in saudi arabia to support workers in distress. With the coast region having the highest number of women travelling to the middle east for work, trace kenya director paul adoch criticised the kafala system for perpetuating suffering and exploitation.

He went on: “we are calling for the unequivocal dismantling of the kafala sponsorship system that binds foreign workers to employers, that fosters exploitation, and perpetuates racism.”

Amnesty international lauded the kenyan government for its toll-free number for distressed workers but stressed the need for urgent legislative action, including passing the migrant workers welfare fund to provide financial and legal support.