Saudi employer pays for helper’s wedding

Manama: A Saudi woman has paid all the expenses of the wedding of her Asian domestic helper and offered the newly-wed couple a honeymoon trip.

The woman, who was not named, also invited friends of the helper to the wedding ceremony hosted in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Saudi daily Okaz reported.

News of the wedding were first reported by Dr Zahra Al Mobei, a social activist who said that she had been invited to the ceremony. She posted several scenes from the reception on her Snapchat account.

The bride, in a white wedding dress, was visibly emotional, the daily said.

“Her employer made sure the bride had everything she needed for the ceremony,” Umm Sultan, a guest, said.

“It was an inspiring example of how relations between employers and employees should be regardless of their origin, background and status,” Umm Sultan said.

“It also shows that there are far more instances of happy stories like this one than the abuse cases often reported in the media,” she added.

“I think such cases are isolated and do not reflect the true morals of Saudi society.”

The employer’s actions were widely praised on social media.

They shared other examples of how employers took care of their employees.

“I know a Saudi woman who fully supported her domestic helper through her illness and ensured she received the best health care possible,” Abu Faisal, a user, said.