Authorities take up case of battered maid

Sharjah: Officials are investigating the case of a young maid who was beaten up and starved for more than a week by her employer.

Akluma Khatoon Rahim, 17, a Bangladeshi, came to work in the UAE three months ago. She was beaten, starved and verbally abused by her Egyptian employer.

Akluma said the abuse was unbearable, but she was forced to tolerate it to support her poor family back home.

A passerby spotted Akluma late last week on Al Khan Road near Al Qasba area. She was sitting on the side of the road with her small bag next to her. She was weeping and was barely able to speak out of exhaustion. She had not eaten for many days.

Akluma told Gulf News through a compatriot that she used to work for the Egyptian family in a building on Al Khan Road. "They kicked me out without any money. I have no place to go," she said.

"I do not know the name of my employer, but I do know the wife's name. They have two children," said Akluma, who can identify the building where she worked.

Residents of the area later took Akluma to Buhaira police station. Police said she should be taken to Al Kuwait hospital for a check-up to prove she was beaten. They said she should also be taken to the Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department (SNRD) which will investigate her case.

SNRD officials are investigating Akluma's case. According to them, Akluma is on the sponsorship of an Emirati from Fujairah.

"Her visa was issued from Fujairah. The day after she was kicked out by the Egyptian family, the sponsor reported her as absconding," the SNRD official said.

The employer and the sponsor will face charges of misusing the residency law. "They will face human trafficking charges too," the official said.

How difficult is it to monitor any violation against domestic workers? How can housemaids be encouraged to report such incidents?

Many of the housemaids who come from the sub-continent are illiterate and usually shy away from the media. Moreover, they are unaware of the law that can protect them. Hence little can be done to persuade the maids to come out with incidents such as this.
Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 19:03

By governments taking control by founding labour centres to take care of these types of cases and by having a helpline for these women to call. Also, maids/drivers should fall under government-sponsored agencies- the present visa system.
Fred Jones
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 11:53

It is very difficult because the employer didn?t allow them to use or own a phone or to talk to any person.
Aisha
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 11:07

Many of the maids that come here to work are not very well trained or mentally stable - as some of them run away from their homes. Hence, not always are the employers to be blamed as there are two sides to every coin.
Elaine Fernandes
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 10:48

Housemaids must report incidents of abuse and torture to 911.There is a feeling of insecurity and fear when a person comes to a new country with hopes of employment. Awareness of the fact that the Police Department and the concerned authorities will help and support such people needs to be increased. Unless a complaint is received from the domestic workers, the authorities cannot take action. People who employ or sponsor domestic workers usually hold the passport and visa and threaten the worker. If the authorities hold the passport and visa of domestic workers then cases of absconding or violation may reduce.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAe
Posted: February 23, 2009, 10:19

I hope our human rights organisation here in UAE will take action on this! Maids are also humans, these people who abuses their helper will be punished.
Nette
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 10:08

How can people be so cruel and callous!!I would suggest there should be random inspections at all residences wherein a labour card has been obtained for a maid and check the status of the maids on a regular basis. In this way, even if they are trapped, they get a chance to escape. Also, measures should be taken to place these maids elsewhere. The Labour Ministry can start an agency that would supply maids legally to only proper and trust worthy people thereby ensuring safety and well being of this class.
Tina Albert
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 10:00

May be its time to change the rules regarding the sponsorship of housemaids to get rid all kinds of abuses by their employers.
Mike
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 09:30

This report conveys that maids who are coming here for housework are not safe. When they enter the country, they should report to the police before going to the sponsor's home. And she should keep with her all telephone numbers which are related to this matter. Then at least she can inform them what's going on with her. And there are ambassadors also should obseve their condition and situation.
Mohammad Ekramun Chowdhury
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 09:24

I hope that justice will be served in her case if the accusations turn out to be true.
Daron
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 09:19

How cruel one can get by beating a teenage girl, all issues as such should be handled case by case and the offenders should be punished. My wife broke into tears after reading this. But again both sides should be heard in these types of cases.
Ashraf
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 09:17

Its a horrible act. No one can even think like this. I believe authorities should take a firm action against such inhuman acts. Same time public should inform police if any one find such criminal act.
Tarek Mahmoud
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 23, 2009, 08:57

It is a pity that maids are treated like this. All maids must be registered at their Embassy prior to stamping of the residency, and there after must be produced at the end of every month at the Embassy with Paid Salary slip (Bank Remittance).If not produced every month at the Embassy, it must be reported to the nearest police station and the Immigration Dept by the Embassy. I feel this process will secure the safety of the Maids to a greater extent.
Thomas Sam
Kuwait city,Kuwait
Posted: February 23, 2009, 08:12

The woman should be punished she should have freed her if she was not happy with her work .She should have given her food , shelter and clothing in addition to her salary.
From A Reader
Toronto,Canada
Posted: February 23, 2009, 06:14

They should be given information upon arrival, before they meet the sponsor. They should know where to turn or who to call in case of problem. The sponsors who send them to other families just to make money (trafficking) should know they will be severally punished. This is easy to stop and must be stopped. It gives the Emirates a very bad reputation.
Dan
Stockholm,Sweden
Posted: February 23, 2009, 02:56