Ensure women migrant workers' rights

According to two leading NGOs, at least 4,000 women workers returned home last year having endured physical and sexual abuse by their employers in KSA. But yet the government is sending more women workers to this country without even ensuring their basic rights and safety. We wonder why the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment is inert to their plight. By now there should have been some policy changes with regard to sending our women workers to Gulf countries.

Time and again, we have urged the government to reconsider its decision to send our women workers to Gulf countries, citing the examples of Philippines and Indonesia. But sadly, our call fell on deaf ears. It is understandable that the remittance these expatriate workers send to the country is very important for our economy. But we do not need remittance in exchange for our workers' rights, safety and dignity.

Since mostly unskilled domestic workers are the victims of sexual abuse and physical torture in these countries, we should only send our skilled workers there. The government should arrange skill development trainings for workers who wish to go abroad. There is a good demand for skilled and professional women workers in these countries, including nurses, caregivers, babysitters, drivers (taxi cab domestic), front desk attendants, receptionists and cashiers. Furthermore, in order to save our women from exploitation, the ministry concerned must take stringent measures against the fraudulent agencies. Most importantly, the government must discuss this issue with the Saudi government and find a permanent solution.