Maids turn up the heat on sponsors

By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Jubail police are investigating a case involving an Asian maid who urinated in her sponsor's tea. The sponsor filed a case against her.

Earlier this year, Arab News reported about a maid who killed her 60-year-old sponsor in Makkah. The maid repeatedly stabbed her with a kitchen knife. She later claimed that she had been treated badly. And as a result of that treatment, she took her gruesome revenge and then ran away.

Though there are no solid figures, the number of domestic workers being abused in the Kingdom is rising at an alarming rate. On the other hand, the number of maids getting back at their sponsors is growing even more.

Maids’ sneaky ways to get back at their sponsors vary from black magic to child abuse.

“I had a maid who was paid SR1,700 per month,” said Hanan, a housewife. “She once came to me asking for more and I refused. The next day I was surprised that my jewelry safe was gone. She stole it and ran away. I immediately reported her to the police, but she was never caught.”

Working parents wish that they could stay at home and raise their children. However, for financial reasons this can be almost impossible. Then the challenge grows to find quality and trustworthy childcare to act as parents when they are working.

Parents can never be too careful when allowing someone into their home. A home is a safe place for both children and adults.

“We as a society find it really hard not to live without the help of a maid. You find us constantly looking for the most reliable and trustworthy ones to take care of our homes and our children,” said Salma Sultan, a businesswoman.

Some maids take revenge on their sponsors by abusing the children.

“I was shocked when I saw bruises and cuts on my nine-month-old baby’s body. I asked the maid about it. And she responded with ‘I think he fell off his bed,’ but I was suspicious, so I installed a nanny-cam to monitor the nanny’s acts around the child. I was surprised at what I saw: the nanny terrorized and physically abused my baby,” said Mariam Al-Hasan, a schoolteacher. “I believe my nanny was upset with us because my mother-in-law is constantly yelling at her. But she is an old lady, what do you expect?”

A local school principal noticed some bruises on a student’s arm and called her into the administration office to investigate. 
“The student was very afraid and she asked us not to inform her parents about it,” said Sahar, the school’s nurse.

“She said that her maid hits her every morning because she is the reason why she wakes up really early to drop her to school. The maid threatened her, saying she would beat her more if she reported her.”  Most Saudis are more concerned about maids performing black magic rather than stealing valuables.

A Saudi woman said her husband left her and married the maid because she put a spell on him.

“I accidentally noticed a piece of thin fabric which held some hair and some unknown words written on it under my husband’s pillow. I searched more and I found a voodoo doll between his clothes. I later discovered that my maid was making a love talisman for my husband to make him leave me and marry her,” said Umm Omar, a housewife.

Comments

ZAID

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It is advisable to be God Fearing in all matters and deeds. Be good with our Maids and they will be good with us in all the regards.

ROD MASSEY

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It is indeed sad to know that an average of 17 people die on the roads daily. I always take precaution when driving here because it seems to me that no one values the life that God has provided us.

The only method to resolve this issue is to ensure that the police who patrol the roads stop people who are speeding and driving as they own the roads. in other words, issue citations and make them pay the fine(s).

MOHAMED

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If women in this country are ready to do theirs own household works and care for theirs families, they is no need for having Housemaid as well as to undergo biased situations such as this!
“Being kind towards fellow human beings is the best sources of relationship that could lead to an adoring life” and this should be applicable for both Sponsors and Employees …

THE HOLY SINNER.

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very thoughtful of the writer indeed to have mentioned all this. Let us have an article from the same writer on the casus belli.

NADEEM

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Our women should follow the Role model of Fatimia (AS) (Daughter of Muhamad PBUH) who was working at home with her own hands. I am sure you will not get this kind of problems.
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