Housemaids in Bahrain suffer from harassment and backbreaking work, say social workers
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
Housemaids in Bahrain face numerous challenges, including harassment and overwhelming workloads. Social workers, such as Senthil G, highlight the severity of these issues, particularly sexual harassment, which violates their basic rights and perpetuates a cycle of fear and exploitation.
Senthil acknowledges the sensitivity surrounding cases involving women and emphasizes the need for immediate action. One significant obstacle faced by housemaids is the low wages they receive, often amounting to BD60 or BD80.
To alleviate these challenges, Senthil proposes that the government provide insurance to support housemaids upon their return to their native countries and establish shelters or protective accommodations funded by the embassy or government.
Obtaining air tickets, especially for patients requiring a stretcher, is a significant obstacle, costing approximately BD2,000. Social workers also face challenges in supporting housemaids, such as obtaining air tickets for patients requiring a stretcher.
A recent incident involving a handicapped housemaid who filed a harassment case against a manpower agency has not been addressed by government authorities, said another well-known social worker, Sudheer Thirunilath.
The Indian Embassy intervened and provided a ticket for the woman to return home. Sudheer Thirunilath suggests immediate action be taken to rescue distressed women who contact the police or an emergency helpline and transfer them to their respective embassies with translators available for effective communication.
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