Human rights groups on Wednesday welcomed a decision by the government of the Philippines to stop sending domestic helpers to Jordan, saying such a step would highlight the abuse Philipinos and other nationals are subjected to at the hands of Jordanian families that employ them.
"These types of measures will positively contribute to providing protection to domestic helpers who suffer due to lack of proper legislations that could protect them," said Assem Rababah, President of the Adaleh Centre for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) in Amman, Jordan. Hundreds of Filipina domestic helpers working with Jordanian families are being physically and sexually abused, and spend months or years without being paid, according to rights activists. Source: [IRIN]
This is a bold movement by the government of the Philippines. Hopefully it will shine some light on the abuse that many of these maids are subjected to on a daily basis.
Note the words… ‘Human’ and ‘Rights’, every person is an individual with a mind and a conscience, we all feel pain if were wounded. Considering this, there is much to be done in regards to the governments stand with maids working in Jordan. Its funny how people recognise what is being done (and im shocked at those people that think that these workers arent being assalted or mistreated in some way), its happening everyday, dosnet need to be proven because ive heard too many stories (heart wrenching stories that will turn your stomach) to even question what is going on behind closed doors of Jordan households. It is fair to note that a proportion, even though very small of household do treat workiong maids accordinngly and fairly, although the issue here is the mistreatement of those that are too many.The Jordanian government should act soon and not beat around the bush, and change the system of Human Rights for these workers. suggestions in this case are Government initiative such as, Random household checks to ensure safe and humanistic living conditions for the maid, personal consultation with the maid checking for sign of abuse of any kind and living conditions. In these cases were maids may be silent due to fear of retaliation or threats, a number should be advertised and clearly given to these maids, in that in an emergency or abusive situation they may call this number and remain anominous. Yes this may be a big move for Jordan, but it needs to be implemented. Something needs to be done, we cannot allow for this suffering to go on unpunished, if there are laws and limits set for these households and access towards emergency numbers, this is shining a light on these problems and not ignoring them. It is time that Jordan goverenment took notice towards this issue, especially considering that Jordan is the home of estimated 60000 maid workers.
I welcome this decision by the government of the Philippines. After over a decade in Jordan, I’ve only met a handful of Filipinas who were treated WELL by their Jordanian families.
Those same families (friends of mine, I add)claimed to treat them well, meaning they didn’t hit them in the face, gave them one day off a month and provide a mattress to sleep on. Period. That is what ‘treating well’ means.
But the vast majority of Filipinas I know report beatings, even the children allowed to beat them, forced sexual favors, accusations of theft to avoid payment, not following through on iqaama and work permits. I’ve had beaten and bloody women call to me from the street to help them, arranged escapes, talked to ‘madames’ about their treatment of their helpers and advocated with the Philippine Embassy and two human rights groups. “Madames’ only changed treatment when shamed into doing so.
Wow! That’s interesting and troubling news. Although, I’ve heard rumors of maids being abused, I certainly haven’t seen it first hand at all. Adli, I would be very hesitant to ask why people would have household help. It’s akin to someone from here asking why Americans, for example, pay as much as $50 per week for someone to cut their lawns. I’m an American in Jordan and I have a Filipina helper. In the US, I had a Nanny for my children and a woman who came every two weeks to clean my house. And, I owned ALL of the conveniences you just listed. I used them as well. The difference here is that the Filipina labor is inexpensive, so we simply have a live-in person to help with the same sorts of chores. My husband travels fairly frequently and I have 3 young children. I am also in school learning Arabic. So, the reasons why household help is needed are various. Regardless, I hope that Jordan will step up and put some protections into place. I, for one, would hate to lose my helper. And, I suspect she’d hate to be lost…
LOL, Right, no one in England ever uses a maid. Oh Please.
Why do these families in Jordan need maids at all? Don’t they own washing machines, dishwashers, hoovers, and the rest? These machines are cheap today.
I don’t know a single family here in England that employs a maid. Possibly very rich people do.
What a sick society. just remember this: culture and values trickle down.
yeah many many maids get abused and dont get paid for long times, sometimes more than 8 months, and when they try 2 contact their agency they hit them 2 shut up, so yeah im not shocked with such dicisions from their governments,
oh and by the way, what happens 2 maids in even other countries around us is really shocking
wallahi i don’t believe this is true..hundreds abused?not paid?
i doubt that this can be really achieved,like all countries phillipines depends majorly on expatriate’s money.and if they went along with it,will they also stop manicurists?nurses? how can they be sure that those are not abused too?
Can a government prevent (not just warn) and adult from traveling outside to work?
Hareega, yes. They can. Labor is the chief export of the PI and they regulate it closely. Guest worker programs are usually done by contract (treaty?) between governments. If Jordan started providing immigrant visas to Filipinos, that would be different.
What if a maid WANTS to come to Jordan to work?? Many Philippino maids are so glad they came to Jordan, many have been living there for more than a decade and even considered part of the family. Can a government prevent (not just warn) and adult from traveling outside to work?