Protect your people
This incident shook me, and the photograph showing the maid’s scalded back brought tears to my eyes (‘Saudi employer ‘pours boiling water on Filipino maid’,’ Gulf News May 21). My frustration, when I read such reports, is always directed towards the nations where the employees come from. Are they doing enough to protect their citizens who live and work abroad? The Philippines government has taken much needed steps in protecting its workers, especially in Saudi Arabia, but much more needs to be done. Likewise, the Saudi Arabian authorities need to step up their efforts in ensuring foreign workers are protected from abusive sponsors. In this day and age, if some people have not realised the value of human life, and the need to treat each other with basic courtesy and humanity, they must be forced or heavily fined into doing so.
From Ms Aya Hussain
Abu Dhabi
Can’t buy a life
I just don’t understand why there are people like the employer in the report, who treated her helper so horrifically. These domestic helpers leave behind their families in their home countries in order to work abroad, so that they can send their children to school and feed their families. They are there to make life easy. The low salary often paid to them is the fruit of their sacrifices for serving one’s family while they are away from their own loved ones. As employers, we are paying for their services, not for their body and soul. We don’t have the right to abuse any person.
From Mr J.G.
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Not human
This is absolutely horrific. How can one even call the employer a human being? Even animals do not behave like this. It is absolutely shocking. They have to be punished.
From C. S. Sagoo
Dubai
Website comment
Cruel behaviour
This is a terrible act in this modern day and age. No one can imagine such cruel behaviour towards any living thing.
From Mr Tarek Mahmoud
Dubai
Inhumane crimes
It’s a horrible tragedy, which seems to be happening in a continuous loop without a break. This vicious cycle of inhumane abuse should be stopped. The concerned embassies should take some concrete steps to protect their citizens. The perpetrators of these inhumane crimes should be severely punished by the respective governments, like it’s done here, in the UAE. Irrespective of the nationality, justice is delivered in the UAE.
From Mr Abdus Saboor
Dubai
Seeking justice
God bless those poor souls who leave their families to work as housemaids and get abused. Justice must be given to them.
From Ms Jameelah
Dubai
Website comment
Not always mistreated
We had a housekeeper who stayed with us and was being treated very well. She absconded for no reason, after serving us for one month and of course, she ran away right after the day she received her first pay cheque. Now, does the employer get any justice? I’ve lost time and money and she’s still somewhere out there, working illegally. Don’t make it seem like maids are always being mistreated by employers abroad.
From Mr John D.
Sharjah
Brings tears
So much damage has been done to her body. This is a very sad and unfortunate incident. There were tears in my eyes, seeing her pictures on Facebook, and now here again, on Gulf News. I wish her well and may God bless her and her family. I hope and pray that justice will be meted out.
From Mr Len
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Don’t criticise
To think that some people don’t believe this story amazes me. This is horrific and rather than criticise, we should perhaps accept that this happened and something needs to be done.
From Mr Ben Barber
Dubai
Website comment
Sacrifices
It is horrible what one human being can do to another. Some employers are barbaric. Even worse are the weak sentences that they get for these inhumane crimes. No one wants to come to work as a housekeeper; they are forced to leave their homes because of poverty in their home country. If the law of an eye for an eye applies in Saudi Arabia, I’d say the person who inflicted this agony should receive the same treatment.
From Ms Asma
Dubai
Website comment
Where to live?
Sharjah is lovely place to live in (‘Home rental rates just keep rising in Sharjah,’ Gulf News, May 20). Especially for families, but the uncontrolled increasing rental agreements are really like a hanging sword, as all the expenses rise accordingly. I cannot plan any longer to remain in one area, as I have no idea whether I would be able to bear the next raise in rent or not!
From Mr Mohammad Rehan Zia
Sharjah
Budget problems
I’m facing the same problem. I have been staying in a studio flat for the past three years, and my rent has changed from Dh16,000 to Dh23,000. Also, because of the traffic and blocked routes from Sharjah to Dubai, the taxi fare is getting expensive too.
From Mr Agarthi Sridhar
Sharjah
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