- RIYADH: A Filipino maid from Romblon has complained that the family she works for has sent her to work for another family while her employer and his family are vacationing in Lebanon.
- Sending domestic workers to other jobs is illegal under Saudi law.
Elizabeth Manzano, 31, claims the wife of her employer ordered her to work for her sister’s family in Jeddah while she and her family went to Lebanon for the summer.
Manzano’s employer is a Palestinian-businessman who is married to Jehad, a Syrian. The family lives in Taif but spends half the year in Lebanon. Last year Manzano accompanied the family to Lebanon, but this year it was decided she remain behind to work for the family of Jehad’s sister in Jeddah. And she says her workload greatly increased.
“I cannot cope with the work,” Manzano told Arab News in Tagalog. “Aside from all the household chores, like washing, cooking and cleaning, I am also being asked to look after two young girls. It’s about the girls I am worried about. Because of fatigue, I could not properly take care of them.”
Aside from lack of sleep, Manzano also complained of inadequate meals. She was one of three maids who spoke to Arab News in June, complaining of physical abuse and delayed payment of salaries.