Reports reveal the disturbing reality for many East African women who migrate to Saudi Arabia for domestic work, facing abuse and exploitation. With a high number of tragedies and dubious labor practices, questions arise about accountability in this industry.**
The Hidden Costs of Domestic Work: Tragedies Faced by East African Women in Saudi Arabia**
The Hidden Costs of Domestic Work: Tragedies Faced by East African Women in Saudi Arabia**
Investigating the alarming abuses faced by East African women working as domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.**
In numerous places around the globe, working as a domestic aide typically offers a sense of safety. However, a troubling investigation conducted across Kenya and Uganda unveils a startling reality. Women from these regions, in pursuit of employment in Saudi Arabia, often find themselves returning home with deep psychological and physical scars, or not returning at all; tragic statistics indicate that 274 Kenyan women have perished in Saudi Arabia within the last five years—55 of those deaths occurring just in the past year.
Complicating matters, autopsies of many victims have raised grave concerns about the true circumstances surrounding their deaths. For instance, the body of one woman from Uganda bore visible signs of trauma and kidney failure but was officially deemed to have died from "natural causes." In other instances, reports document women falling from high places—roofs, balconies, or even air conditioner openings—which brings into question the narratives surrounding workplace safety for domestic workers.
The disturbing findings shine a light on an industry that should not be considered obscure. Thousands of East African women are recruited and undergo training through well-established companies operating under oversight from Kenyan, Ugandan, and Saudi Arabian governments. Labor advocates have long pointed fingers at antiquated labor laws in Saudi Arabia as a key factor in these abuses. However, our year-long inquiry has prompted us to question whether additional factors contribute to this troubling situation.
Workers are often lured by promises of better lives and earnings, only to confront horrors that lead to their disillusionment. In our journey, we spoke to over 90 women and their families, diligently examining employment contracts when accessible, revealing a complex web of exploitation masked as opportunity. The tragic tales of these women serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a reevaluation of labor rights and protections, demanding attention and reform in the domestic labor sector.
Complicating matters, autopsies of many victims have raised grave concerns about the true circumstances surrounding their deaths. For instance, the body of one woman from Uganda bore visible signs of trauma and kidney failure but was officially deemed to have died from "natural causes." In other instances, reports document women falling from high places—roofs, balconies, or even air conditioner openings—which brings into question the narratives surrounding workplace safety for domestic workers.
The disturbing findings shine a light on an industry that should not be considered obscure. Thousands of East African women are recruited and undergo training through well-established companies operating under oversight from Kenyan, Ugandan, and Saudi Arabian governments. Labor advocates have long pointed fingers at antiquated labor laws in Saudi Arabia as a key factor in these abuses. However, our year-long inquiry has prompted us to question whether additional factors contribute to this troubling situation.
Workers are often lured by promises of better lives and earnings, only to confront horrors that lead to their disillusionment. In our journey, we spoke to over 90 women and their families, diligently examining employment contracts when accessible, revealing a complex web of exploitation masked as opportunity. The tragic tales of these women serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a reevaluation of labor rights and protections, demanding attention and reform in the domestic labor sector.
