A recent report from Amnesty International highlights severe exploitation and abuse faced by Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, echoing previous findings regarding Kenyan workers. The revelations emphasize a troubling pattern of rights violations against migrant women, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the region.
Exploited Labor: Common Experiences
In the report titled “Once we step in their homes, we are no longer human,” 19 Filipino women recount their harrowing experiences after returning from Saudi Arabia between 2023 and 2026. Many described how, upon entering their employers’ homes, the official terms of their employment contracts vanished, leaving them vulnerable to unchecked authority. These accounts closely resemble those shared by Kenyan women, who reported being misled by recruiters about job expectations, facing harsh working conditions, and experiencing racial discrimination.
Amnesty International’s Director of Climate, Economic and Social Justice, Marta Schaaf, remarked, “These stories are not isolated cases. They reflect a broader issue of state-enabled exploitation within a nation that is home to over four million domestic workers.” The situation raises alarm bells about the systemic abuses that many workers suffer while seeking employment in Saudi Arabia.
Living Under Oppressive Conditions
Migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia are largely excluded from the national labor law and instead fall under the 2023 Regulations for Domestic Workers. Unfortunately, these regulations offer insufficient protections when compared to international human rights and labor standards. The testimonies reveal that the autonomy of these women is often dictated by their employers, leading to excessive work hours that can exceed legal limits. Reports indicate that women frequently work between 14 to 21 hours daily, with no guarantee of breaks or days off.
One survivor, Adelina, indicated, “I worked for two years straight without a day off.” Others shared similarly distressing experiences, with one woman stating that her workload was so demanding that she could only spare ten minutes for meals. Sadie reported working across multiple households against her contract, leaving her exhausted and vulnerable.
The Cycle of Abuse
The pervasive lack of freedom further complicates the situation for these workers. Many face passport confiscation, legal restrictions on leaving the country without permission, and barriers created by language and cultural differences. These factors force them into dependence on their employers, not just for their livelihood but for their basic safety.
Cleo, who arrived in late 2023, recounted being deprived of food and enduring humiliation before she could return to her recruitment agency. Her journey home was fraught with degrading treatment, including invasive inspections. Similar stories emerged from other women, illustrating a climate of fear and abuse, including sexual harassment and assault. Isabel shared her traumatic encounter with her male employer, revealing a hazardous environment that forced her to hide to escape his advances.
Call for Accountability and Reform
The common thread in the testimonies of both Kenyan and Filipino workers highlights a disheartening reality: many women view abuse as an expected part of their domestic labor experience in Saudi Arabia. The exploitative kafala system, which binds migrant workers to their employers, exacerbates these circumstances. Although there have been reforms, many workers have seen little improvement in their situations.
In light of these findings, Amnesty International is demanding that the Saudi government investigate all allegations of abuse, including incidents of sexual violence, and hold perpetrators accountable. Marta Schaaf emphasized the need for meaningful reforms, stating that domestic workers should have the freedom to change jobs or leave the country without employer consent.
The call extends to governments sending workers abroad, urging them to protect their nationals from exploitation. Furthermore, Amnesty International advocates for domestic workers to be included under national labor laws to ensure equal rights and effective enforcement of existing protections.
The Saudi government’s response to these allegations has been tentative at best, arguing that protections for domestic workers are already in place. However, Amnesty International argues that existing measures remain woefully inadequate in preventing abuse. Without significant action, the cycle of exploitation will likely persist, perpetuating a system that undermines the rights and dignity of vulnerable workers.