Abuse against Migrant Workers Takes Center Stage in Saudi Arabia…Again

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A Saudi court on Sunday issued a three year prison sentence to a female employer of an Indonesian maid.  Reports indicate that the ruling may be the first time in the country’s history that a punishment has been handed down to a Saudi citizen for abusing a migrant worker.  The employer was found guilty under a new law issued by the Kingdom to fight human trafficking.   Observers contend that Sunday’s ruling is a small step in the right direction for a country which continues to face international pressure to secure rights and protections for migrant workers. 

Indonesian Migrant Worker Beaten by Saudi Employer (Photo Courtesy of The Telegraph)
Indonesian Migrant Worker Beaten by Saudi Employer (Photo Courtesy of The Telegraph)

The maid, 23, suffered internal bleeding and broken bones after she was severely beaten and burned by her employer.   This latest case of abuse against migrant workers has sparked international condemnation for a problem which has been prevalent in the Middle East in recent months.  Migrant workers continue to be subjected to poor treatment, abuse, arrest and deportations throughout the region.  A comprehensive report published by Human Rights Watch last year found that migrant workers who suffer abuse at the hands of their employers are likely to suffer emotional trauma and substantial psychological effects.   The report indicates that such abuse may also contribute to forced labor and human trafficking. 

While the ruling appears to be a small win for rights activists, both sides are appealing the ruling.  Indonesian officials have declared the sentence to be unsatisfactory.  Didi Wahyudi, the head of citizen protection services at the Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah stated that “[t]he punishment is not strict enough, it’s a very light punishment.” Other’s however, appear to embrace the ruling with an optimistic view towards the future.  The Saudi daily newspaper, Arab News, reported that the case “may become something of a watershed.”  The government in Riyadh has kept its distance in the controversy, failing to comment about the court’s decision.  Although the Saudi government is unlikely to announce any significant change in its policies towards migrant workers in the near future, Sunday’s ruling may be a starting point to guaranteeing greater rights and legal protections for migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, please see:

BNO News – Indonesia to Appeal Sentence in Saudi Arabia Tortured Migrant Worker Case – Jan. 13, 2011

Adnkronos International – Non-govt Groups Fundraise to Repatriate Migrants Stranded in Saudi Arabia – Jan. 12, 2011

CNN World – Woman Gets Three Years for Abusing Indonesian Maid – Jan. 12, 2011

People’s Daily Online – Indonesia Files Appeal on Tortured Migrant Worker Case in Saudi Arabia – Jan. 12, 2011

Author: Impunity Watch Archive