Stories from maids that escaped their abusive employers

From today's Arab Times...

Large number of Filipino maids avail amnesty, leave the country

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 14: Eighty six mostly Filipina household workers left Kuwait Monday evening, part of the continuing exodus of foreign country nationals availing of the government’s amnesty program that ends Wednesday. The group was seen off at the Kuwait International Airport, by Philippine Embassy officials who helped arrange and facilitate their departure, particularly those whose passports were retained by their employers, by issuing them travel documents. According to Halim Langco of the Philippine Embassy’s Assistance to Nationals Unit or ANU, the group is part of some 800 plus Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who registered with the embassy to avail of the Kuwaiti government’s amnesty program. “Actually, a lot more has already left on their own, like those who did not have pending court cases against them or other legal impediments save that for overstaying their visas,” added Langco. Many in the group told of sad experiences they said they never imagined would happen to them.

Grecilda Barolan, a 32 year old single mother from Maria Cristina, Iligan, in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, said she came to Kuwait in search of a better opportunity for the sake of her 10-year old son. “I used to work in a factory at the Export Processing Zone in Iligan but the pay I was getting was barely enough to support both of us, that’s why when the chance came for a job in Kuwait, I grabbed it, thinking it could be the one chance I’ll have to provide for a better future for my son,” she said. On her arrival in Kuwait in February 2006, she was employed in the household of a Kuwaiti lady working as an engineering consultant and who also happened to be a single mother of three grownup children.

She recalled that everything went well until several months ago when their pay kept getting delayed and began to accummulate. When they ask for money to send back home, she said they are given only a month’s worth. But this was not the reason why she left, she said. The reason why she left, she said, was in sympathy for her ailing co-worker, also a Filipina and who is from Bicol. “She (referring to her co-worker) fell heavily on her back while we were cleaning the swimming pool one day and her condition deteriorated because she was not taken for treatment; unable to move well to perform her duty because of the intense pain she was feeling, she was constantly being berated by our employer,” she said in recounting her co-worker’s ordeal.

The last straw came, she said, when her co-worker, no longer able to bear the verbal abuse she was being subjected to by their employer, snapped back and engaged the latter in a shouting match. Then, to her shock and surprise, she said she saw their employer pushed her co-worker so hard which sent toppling her into a bedroom which was then locked by the employer from the inside and she repeatedly struck and pummeled the defenseless woman.

“After that, we decided to run away and sought shelter at our embassy,” said Grecilda who added she made the decision despite the fact her employer still owes her six months pay.

Anisa Hassan, 21, is from Zamboanga City and she said she left her employer because she was being overworked and not given a day off much less, allowed to go for vacation. “Not only that, I was also threatened with bodily harm if I insist on asking to go on leave although I had already completed my two years contract,” she said, adding she is still owed two months pay by her employer.

“I feared for my safety because of the lying and scheming of my employer’s children,” says 33 year old Jenelyn Dela Torre from Antique, Panay Island in west central Philippines.

Jenelyn said her employer’s children are unruly and destructive, wreaking havoc in the house and when she would try to control them like when they were playing with kitchen utensils including knives, they would make up stories to their parents on their return home from work, that she threatened to kill them with a knife.
As a result, she said she was mauled by the children’s mother leaving her black and blue. “That’s why I resolved to get out of there as quickly as I can and ran to our embassy,” she added. A much bigger group was scheduled to leave Tuesday with the rest exiting Kuwait on Wednesday, the last and final day of the 45-day amnesty period granted by the Kuwaiti government to give residence violators the chance to leave the country voluntarily without paying any fine for those without pending court cases; and for those who opt to stay, to formalize their status by going through the proper channels.

By Boie Conrad Dublin
Arab Times Staff

...and that's just the tip of the iceberg... ones that got away and had their stories published. And what kind of justice has prevailed in these situations? How many abusive employers are hauled before the courts? Zero, zip, الصفر, nol. Instead, the maids are treated as criminals, having to be processed through police stations and the deportation prison...

These are the risks the poor take in this part of the world. Thankfully, some find an honest and kind employer. Unfortunately, it is not many. Why does Kuwait not get its act together to resolve these problems? Ah, but that would mean a change in peoples' attitudes, a re-education process to eradicate racism and discrimination, a just and transparent legal system...

Kiss closes concert

Kiss closes concert

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 5, (AP): A Kuwaiti official says authorities abruptly ended a music concert by Egyptian singer Tamer Hosni when a young female fan jumped on stage, hugged the male singer and gave him a kiss. Qanas Al-Adwani, who heads the government department that monitors public entertainment, says the girl’s behavior at Friday’s concert “defied the conservative traditions” of Kuwait. Al-Adwani also said Sunday that the fan’s behavior broke controls on public entertainment, which were imposed by influential Muslim fundamentalists after they failed in 1997 to ban concerts altogether. Concerts have to be licensed by the government, and monitors from the Information Ministry watch the crowd to make sure nobody stands up to dance.

It has been reported the concert was beamed live by the Al-Rai TV satellite channel and after 30 minutes the organizers received a call from the Ministry of Information to cancel the concert. The Egyptian singer had performed only three songs. MP Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi said the scene damaged the reputation of Kuwait. He added the ministers of Interior, Information and Commerce and Industry must take firm action and refer the violators of the rules and regulations to the Public Prosecution.

Yep, believe it or not... these kissing terrorists must be stopped by all means! So let's get the Ministers of Interior, (mis)Information, and Commerce & Industry involved to stop these acts of terror.

(And for those readers that obviously don't get my sense of humour, and before you hit the comments button - I am being sarcastic).

The honourable gentlemen Qanas Al-Adwani & MP Mohammad Hayef Al-Mutairi are probably oblivious to the fact that their words and actions are doing significantly more damage to the reputation of Kuwait than some Egyptian singer's fan... Where are the mullah's denouncing this distorted view of morality? Guys, you ain't going to get more brownie points and get ahead in the queue for heaven with these stupid & petty rules...

When it comes time to leave Kuwait

From today's Arab Times, the joys of leaving Kuwait...

Boss refuses to hand over Colombian’s passport; Top officials help end expat’s ordeal

Imagine being in a place where your country has no diplomatic relations and unexpectedly find yourself in trouble with your employer... all because you refuse to hand over your passport. A Colombian national working for a car armoring company never had any inkling that he would one day get into trouble for refusing to hand his passport to his employer. Thirty year old Jimmy Alexander Cuellar Pineda, a native of Bogota, an armored car technician was among a group of seven Colombians hired in their country to work in Kuwait; arriving in the country in early 2006. “Everything went well at first. After one year, I asked and was allowed to go for three months leave to visit my family, especially my 10-year old daughter who I am very fond of,” says Jimmy in a recent interview with the Arab Times.

After almost a year and a half since he came back from vacation, business dwindled down and there was not much work to be done and according to Jimmy, he told his boss he would like to go on leave. But his employer reportedly told him he needs him around as he expects new orders coming in.
Co-workers “As there was no work to be done, our Filipino co-workers would spend most of their time playing basketball while the rest of us would try to find anything to do to keep from being bored,” says Jimmy. Weeks and months went by and still nothing happened so he approached his boss once more but this time, not to go on holiday but to leave for good. He said his employer tried to persuade him to stay as his services will be needed, again with the same excuse that new orders will be coming in shortly, but he said he has already made up his mind.

In early morning of Friday, August 1, he said his boss came to the house where he was staying in Qurtoba and asked for his passport. When he asked what for, he was told all employees’ passports must be deposited with the company but he refused, telling his boss, “I have to hold on to my passport as we have no embassy here. Besides, I had this with me ever since I arrived in this country and you did not require me then to hand it over, why only now,” he reportedly told his boss who immediately left.
Later that day, he said he got a call from a Filipino friend inviting him for lunch at a Filipino restaurant in downtown Kuwait City but when he was about to leave, found the doors locked. At this, he called an Indian national working in the house and asked why the doors were locked and to open it because he was going out.
The guy told him it was his employer’s order to lock the door. He then said he called up his boss to ask why he was being locked inside the house and his boss reportedly asked him where he was going and told him to wait as he would come by to take him there.
After about an hour, his boss arrived with the company “mandoob” or liaison officer and they drove him to the downtown restaurant where his Filipino friend was waiting but his boss reportedly told him he could be planning something with his friend and again asked for his passport-adamantly, this time but he still refused.
Then his boss told him to get back in the car and they drove to a nearby police station in Salhiya.
At the station, the mandoob got down and went inside while he and his boss waited in the car. The latter reportedly asked him if he was not afraid of the police to which he replied he was not because he has done nothing wrong.
After a while, the mandoob came back and they all went inside the station and while waiting for someone, his boss again asked that he hand over his passport but he still refused. Then, the mandoob returned and escorted them to an office where a police official waited.
The official, who he said spoke just a little English, reportedly asked him if he knows Arabic and he replied no.
Passport
Then, he said his boss and the police official talked to each other and saw the former take out a business card and handed it to the latter. Afterwards, the police official, in broken English asked to see his passport. He said he handed it to the official who, after some cursory look returned it to him. Apparently, the officer was aware that it was prohibited to take a foreign national’s passport from him.
Instead, the official persuaded him to give the passport to his employer telling him it was alright and that it was common practice for employers to hold these for safekeeping purposes. “Under pressure at the time, I reluctantly obliged,” Jimmy recounted.
After that, his employer let him go but instead of returning to his place, wary that he might be locked in again, he decided to go somewhere else and called a friend who got him in touch with people from the diplomatic community who readily extended their help upon learning of his travails; these good Samaritans also helped him get in touch with his country’s nearest diplomatic mission which was in Beirut, Lebanon.
“I also called my company in Colombia to apprise them of my problem and they said they will try to contact the nearest Colombian embassies in the region, in Cairo and in Beirut, to extend whatever assistance to me,” Jimmy said.
The Colombian Embassy in Beirut reportedly told him they could issue him a new passport and send it to him immediately. But, he said, without a residence stamped, a new passport would be useless and he still would not be able to leave Kuwait, leaving him in a quandary. His benefactors did not abandon him. They put him up in a safe place in comfortable quarters and took care of his personal needs as well.
Not only that, they brought his case to the attention of UN agencies which then contacted local officials to apprise them of his situation. Because of it, he received a call from his employer asking him to report to the company to talk things over amicably. Wary but with the assurance of his “new” friends, he went to see his employer.
On their meeting, his employer reportedly told him there was no need to take the issue up with authorities, and that he can leave anytime but must submit his resignation letter first as a pre-requisite to cancel his residence.
He then left to prepare the resignation letter and sent it by courier right after. But half an hour later, he got a call from his boss’ secretary informing him they have not received it.
He said he immediately called one of his one friends at the company, his supervisor and compatriot who advised him to email his resignation letter to him and he would be the one to take it to their boss.
Resignation
Two days went by before he received a call from the secretary that they already have his resignation letter but that he should come to affix his signature.
“I immediately went to our office and after signing the resignation letter, my boss told the secretary to give me money, about ten days worth of pay which I said, I do not really need but my passport,” says Jimmy.

His employer reportedly then told him to sign a document written in Arabic but he politely refused, saying he could not sign anything that he does not understand, and asked to be excuse for a while, taking the paper with him. He said he called up an Arab friend who came after about two hours and after reading the paper said it was alright to sign it, as it was only a requirement before his residence will be cancelled. He said his boss angrily asked him where he went and why it took him so long just to sign the paper. Afterwards, he was told that in three days time, the mandoob will accompany him to the shoun for the cancellation of his residence. That day came and this time, his residence was finally cancelled but still, his employer would not give him back his passport.

It was only after two weeks that he was finally able to get hold of his passport but not before pressure was exerted on his employer by a high ranking government official after calls from the Colombian government that it would lodge a protest with the Kuwaiti government over the treatment of one of their nationals, and from two UN agencies in Kuwait. “I could not remember of any problem whatsoever, that I may have had with my employer or my co-workers,” Jimmy said during the interview with the Arab Times at an undisclosed place a couple of weeks before his ordeal came to an end when he was finally able to leave the country through the help of good Samaritans. After thanking his benefactors and everyone who helped in his case, Jimmy Alexander Cuellar Pineda finally left Kuwait last Friday, Sept 5 taking with him unpleasant memories of his ordeal.

By Boie Conrad Dublin
Arab Times Staff

This is why I would advise, if you don't intend to come back to Kuwait, buy your own ticket if you can afford it and leave on a holiday, then submit your resignation... Of course, as I intended to visit Kuwait for business (and pleasure!?) in the future I went through the pain of returning to Kuwait and suffering at the hands of the bank's HR department and Kuwaiti bureaucracy for 3 days at my own expense so I could get my working permit and visa officially cancelled and get my final dues which had been withheld... and then missed my flight on the 3rd day as I waited for my passport to be returned. I was still fortunate. If I had been in dispute with my Employer it would no doubt have been worse.

Kuwait must implement anti-human trafficking measures

And finally for today, it seems like Kuwait will drop back down to level 3 in the USA's State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.

Kuwait must intensify efforts to tackle human trafficking problem

KUWAIT CITY : Kuwait might again land in Tier 3 in the US Security Department’s Trafficking-in Persons (TIP) report for 2008, Charge d’ Affaires at the US Embassy in Kuwait Alan Misenheimer told Al-Qabas. In a letter forwarded to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Misenheimer clarified Kuwait was included in Tier 3 in the 2007 TIP report but was later put in Tier 2 through a presidential decree issued in Oct, 2007. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000 lists three factors to be considered in determining whether a country should be in Tier 2 (or Tier 2 Watch List) or in Tier 3: the extent to which the country is a country of origin, transit or destination for severe forms of trafficking; the extent to which the government of the country does not comply with TVPA’s minimum standards, in particular, the extent of the government’s trafficking-related corruption; and the resources and capabilities of the government to address and eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. Governments that do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so are placed in Tier 3.

Concrete
Misenheimer explained Kuwait was placed in Tier 2 after its government took concrete steps to address the issue, which include the establishment of a shelter for runaway household helpers, enactment of the anti-trafficking law, and increased number of trials and verdicts on trafficking in persons cases. He added the government also offered training programs for law enforcement officers, lawyers and judges on ways to enhance their skills in investigating and prosecuting human traffickers and identifying the victims. However, Misenheimer pointed out these steps are not enough as Kuwait failed to make and remarkable progress and this might result in its being placed in Tier 3 again in the 2008 TIP report. He called on the Kuwaiti authorities to intensify their efforts to address the problem. He also proposed the issuance of an Amiri decree to combat human trafficking in the country and serve as an example to other countries. He said the US Embassy is willing to help Kuwait eradicate this negative phenomenon. On the other hand, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor assessed the existing laws in Kuwait vis-à-vis a proposed anti-trafficking bill and found a number of similarities.

Proven
Article 179 of Kuwait’s law stipulates a punishment of life imprisonment on anyone proven to have abducted a person below 21 years old which, the Ministry said, is also included in the proposed bill. Other similarities found include Article 184 on imposing a three-year jail term on those trafficking in domestic workers while Article 185 stipulates a maximum of five years imprisonment for those who ‘buy or sell’ a person as a slave.

Once again no doubt, we will see lots of denial, attempts to shift blame (it's all a jewish conspiracy, how dare the USA comment on our problems when they have their own problems such as Guantanamo, Abu-Graib, etc, blah, blah, blah...) and pleading to get back up to level 2 again. And, Bush will probably cave in again. I wonder if the next President will be as easily coerced.

Deport the alleged troublemakers

On a roll today. The Arab Times this time.

Pinoys’ deportation delayed

KUWAIT CITY : The deportation of the seven Filipino truck drivers who were accused of allegedly leading a protest in one of the trucking companies in Kuwait last month was called off on Sunday due to the non-cancellation of their work visas on their passports, disclosed on Monday Philippine Labour Attache Leopoldo De Jesus to the Arab Times. He informed that the seven Filipino workers were already on their way to the airport on Sunday night when they were informed by authorities that they have to go back to the deportation centre since the company did not cancel their work permits at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.

Fly
“Hopefully, they can fly anytime within this week as soon as the cancellation process has been done and the rebooking of their air tickets,” pointed out De Jesus. He added that five of the seven workers received all their termination benefits from their company while the two workers authorised the Philippine Overseas Labour Office to claim the benefits on their behalf. “We tried our best to help them so they can be freed and continue with their jobs but we have to abide by the law of Kuwait and respect the decision of Kuwaiti authorities,” stressed De Jesus. It may be recalled that these seven workers were arrested for allegedly instigating their co-workers to stage a sit-in protest that led to a commotion between the workers and the police that partly damaged one of the police cars.

Why are they deporting only the Filipinos? They were not the ones who damaged the car. They were inside the police car when the other workers swarmed into the vehicle and damaged its windows. Why put the blame only on the Filipinos? How about the other nationals” lamented one of the truck drivers who pities the seven Filipino workers.

About 400 workers mostly truck drivers of various nationalities namely Filipinos, Indians, Egyptians, Nepalese, Bangladeshi and Pakistanis participated in the mass action on April 16 to demand from the c ompany an increase in their basic salary from KD 100-110 to KD 250 per month and an increase in their per trip allowance due to the hike in the prices of basic commodities in Kuwait and the low foreign exchange rate. Most of the truck drivers who ply to Iraq demanded an increase in the per trip allowance from KD 10 to KD 40 while those who ply within Kuwait demanded an increase from KD 3 to KD 15 per trip. De Jesus earlier met with the management who vowed to look into the workers’ demands. Most of the truck drivers resume work as they wait for the decision of the company to act on their demands.

By Michelle Fe Santiago
Special to the Arab Times

How dare foreigners allegedly protest their conditions of slavery. Just deport the alleged troublemakers, if we can sort out their paperwork... and we all know that those pesky Pinoys are pretty bolshie when they get treated poorly. You couldn't make up this farce if you tried.

Good luck Mr Avery fighting the Kuwaiti (in)justice system

Another interesting insight into Kuwait's (in)justice system...

An American in Kuwait fights for his name, rights

Published Date: May 13, 2008
By Nawara Fattahova, Staff writer

KUWAIT: It's hard when somebody is falsely accused of committing a crime. And the situation becomes more difficult if this person loses his job and his reputation is defamed. The case of Allan Avery, an American citizen, who was employed with a US military contracting company working in Kuwait is not decided yet. But Avery claims he was innocent and is fighting charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession in Kuwait in order to prove his claim and clear his name.

Avery's ordeal began late last year. On the night of Oct 27, he was arrested along with two other American contractors while sitting in a car in Sabah Al-Salem area. He was taken to jail and detained for 12 days without charge. Finally, he was sent to the Public Prosecution and charged with drug trafficking, abandonment, and illegal possession of drugs. All three tested negative for drugs, Avery says.

According to Avery when the police searched him and the car, they didn't find any illegal substances on him. The other two accused were found to be in possession of small amounts of marijuana. But police claimed that Avery threw "something" from the car when he saw the cop's car approaching.

The police let me take my clothes off, and they didn't find anything. I was imprisoned for nothing. I lost my job and now I'm living with my friend," Avery told the Kuwait Times yesterday during the third session of his trial at the Court of First Instance in Kuwait City at the Palace of Justice. Avery has already entered a plea of not guilty. His two companions from that night both fled Kuwait after being released from jail.

Avery has not only suffered legal problems. He was also fired from his job. After being released, his company terminated him on November 26, 2007 although his case is not yet finished and he hasn't been found guilty.

The company wanted to get rid of me so they took a blood sample of me at the office and stated it was positive. They thought I will leave, thus on the same day I went to a private clinic and made the blood test there, and the result was negative. The other two accused left the country after they were released, but I preferred to stay to prove my innocence," say the towering American. Abdulmajeed Khuraibit, Avery's lawyer presented a verbal defense attacking the procedure of the police. Two judges presided over the Avery's case, which will have a verdict by May 26.

A growing number of Americans, many of them connected to the military contracting business, have been associated with the illicit drug and alcohol trade in Kuwait in the last year or so. In April 2007, the US Embassy issued a warden's message reminding American citizens here that they are subject to the local laws including those prohibiting the use or trade of alcohol or narcotics.

Those arrested for possession or trade of those substances are dealt with harshly by Kuwaiti law enforcement," the notice explained. The Embassy notice also warned US citizens that the Embassy "cannot intervene to free Americans who have been arrested, nor can it represent Americans at trial, give legal advice or pay legal fees and/or fines with US Government funds.

The common practice for those arrested for such crimes is to flee the country rather than face a travel ban and try to navigate Kuwait's labyrinth legal system. But as Avery points out, he's stayed to fight to clear his name, even though he could have fled. As his lawyer points out, evidence against Avery is slim, as no drugs were actually found on him or in his blood or urine.

The police noted the place where Avery and the other two were caught was a suspect place, which is not true. They also smelled inside the car, while there should be a trained dog for this job. How can the police report register that he was caught in action, while no drugs were found with him?" Khuraibit asked. "My client doesn't even smoke!

Of course, he could be guilty as sin, and his innocence totally fabricated.

MEW's latest brainwave

The latest brainfart from the Ministry of Electricity & Water (MEW) as commented on by Badrya Darwish in today's Kuwait Times...

No release, no travel!!!

Published Date: May 13, 2008

By Badrya Darwish

To improve human rights so we can rise to the minimum international standards, the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) has decided to ask all expatriates before exiting the country - whether on holiday or permanently - to obtain a certificate of clearance from the ministry. The certificate is only valid for one month. If the expat doesn't have it, he will be returning from the airport the same day with his family, his luggage, etc.

This is beautiful. Instead of advancing and updating our systems in the different ministries, especially as the government spent millions on computers and e-government programs and training and etc - we are going backwards. Why can't they update the way to check if people have paid their bills or not?

The MEW is also asking the Ministry of Interior to coordinate with it to implement the new regulation. Because the Interior is the ministry that controls the borders and exits and customs. MEW can't enforce it alone. May I remind the minister of water and electricity that it's not the expats who are failing to pay their bills. It's us, the Kuwaitis, because we feel safe and nobody can touch us and we are above the law. We're Kuwaitis. Can the Minister challenge me by producing the names of big families and big companies who have paid their electricity bills for years and years?

Or he only has the courage to attack expats? Why can't he organize his ministry like any other advanced country on earth. He has so many civil employees doing nothing. Sitting in their offices, drinking chai and chatting. Well, let them do something for a change. Open the stupid computer in front of them and start billing people. Do a proper billing system in Kuwait, for God's sake. If you don't know how to do it - and I'm sure you do - then ask experts from other countries. In modern systems, if people forget, they receive a reminder from the electric company. And then a second reminder and if you don't pay in the third warning, they'll cut your electricity. And arrange also for people to be able to pay. Have direct debit through their banks. Improve your billing system.

Then start screaming and put laws and regulations to ban people from travelling and putting them under the pain of queuing in front of the ministries to ask for this precious letter of clearance. What if people have to travel all of a sudden for business trips or emergency family leaves? How many more employees will you need to give letters of clearance? You have more than two million expats in Kuwait. How many offices will you have to open for all of them to obtain releases every time they travel? Especially in the summer period when it's time for everybody to travel. And may I ask you: What about Kuwaitis? What are you planning for us? Also we cannot travel? Is this your scheme for enhancing the power system and electricity in Kuwait? Is this your scheme for the coming summer?

Imagine the chaos if this were ever implemented, given that Kuwaiti landlords in probably 99% of cases are responsible for paying electricity and water bills for their tenants, under the terms of rental contracts stipulating electricity and water are included in the rent. Naturally, no bills are paid... not least because bills are never issued! And then every 18 months or so the Government wipes the accumulated debts anyway...

Next they'll be wanting access to everyone's bank accounts to deduct from their salaries like loan payments... oh, wait, they've already tried that only to be rebuffed by the banks!

Persecute the victims

Today's Arab Times couldn't go past without comment...

Ban on transfer of 'Iqama' for domestics within year

KUWAIT CITY: The Immigration General Department at the Ministry of Interior has instructed domestic servant offices not to deal with those who escaped from their previous sponsors 'as such people will pose problems both to the offices and their employers by their continuous escapes,' reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. Sources say the department discussed problems of this sector of people with Undersecretary at the Interior Ministry Lt General Ahmad Al-Rajeeb and he approved the instructions. Sources indicated that Assistant Undersecretary for Citizenship and Passport Affairs Major General Ahmad Al-Nawaf followed up these problems.

According to sources, acting Director of the department Colonel Bader Saleh Al-Hammadi and the Domestic Servants Department will act on the instructions and not transfer the residence permit of domestic servants to other sponsors if they are not reliable. Furthermore, a decision has been issued banning the transfer of residence permits of domestic servants to other sponsors before the completion of one year of stamping the previous permit. Sources say the decision will come into effect from July 1, 2008 and will be applicable on domestics of all nationalities except those from Bangladesh and Nepal.

Can you believe what these guys are doing? Hmmm, I know, let's persecute the victims a little bit more... whilst the criminals (abusive sponsors) continue to get off the hook. What is the Ministry of Interior thinking of? Are maids not human beings also? So if a slave happens to escape from their abusive slave-owner within a year, not only are the labeled a criminal (because they've escaped from their slave-owner), but now the slave traders are being officially stopped from selling them onto a new owner who potentially may treat them as a human being... Incredible, yes. Unexpected, no. And what exactly are the unfortunate maids supposed to do... a) seek shelter in their embassies, exacerbating the problem of the huge numbers of maids already stuck in limbo, or, b) be forced to work illegally, increasing the likelihood of abuse. It's not like they can hop on a plane and go home. So the vicious cycle continues to get worse.

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