EMPLOYERS have been urged to take special care of their domestic workers, as Ramadan often results in longer working hours and added demands.
Campaigners raised the issue as a matter of concern as the holy month frequently results in an increase in number of ‘runaway’ housemaids.
“Ramadan working hours are shortened to five to six hours for the general population, while unfortunately this does not extend to most domestic workers,” said Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) action committee member Evonne Bhaskaran.
“Their normal working day averages to around 12 hours – unfortunately this is the norm in many GCC countries – and this work load increases even more during Ramadan to a likely 15 to 16 hours.
“As a result, the number of runaway domestic workers increases exponentially during this month.”
Ms Bhaskaran, a long-term Sri Lankan resident and senior domestic workers’ rights campaigner, pointed out maltreatment, domestic violence, overworking, unpaid wages and a lack of sleep or rest as reasons why domestic workers want to run away.
Bahrain Society for Sociologists board member Dr Huda Al Mahmood underlined the importance of ‘serious’ laws to be implemented alongside awareness campaigns on workers’ rights. She blamed the agents who bring in the domestic workers, who she claims take advantage of their dire need for a job.
“Be it Ramadan or otherwise, all workers should be treated right, which is just being humane,” she said. “Some of the offices responsible for bringing the domestic workers to the countries also treat domestic workers like slaves, taking advantage of their situations.
“Efforts from some civil societies and government officials to help organise and ease these problems, sadly, never resulted in serious implementation of the rules and regulations, in my opinion.
“There is a need for more awareness campaigns and clear laws to be seriously adhered to.”
Dr Al Mahmood, the former head of the (Labour and) Social Development Ministry’s Dar Al Aman shelter for abused women in Tubli also highlighted that misunderstandings and cultural differences can sometimes make matters worse.
“Some employers deny permission for outings because they worry their workers will run away which makes some even more determined to flee,” she explained,
“In fact, cultural differences often create unintentional misunderstanding and confusion which damages relationships between the two parties.”
Indian Ladies Association’s newly-elected president Shipra Dhir Passi also underlined the need to be compassionate to domestic workers always.
“Ramadan is for all and in such a pious time, let us not forget anyone among us, especially the domestic workers whose work timings and patterns change during this month,” she appealed.
“With general workers, we see work timings being altered, but in the case of this category, maybe they are given gifts or they are compensated financially, but I think we should compensate them with proper physical and mental rest too.
“There are many household helps who are fasting as well so ideally we should ensure that they are not left out and their needs are addressed.”
There were only 10 annual runaway cases reported during the height of Covid-19, probably because large family gatherings did not take place, although diplomats suggested that stricter rules to protect expatriates had achieved their goal.
Maids and their advocates hope that will prove to be the case this year rather than witness a leap of more than 100 cases of runaways recorded prior to the pandemic.
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