Two concurrent episodes regarding the saga of overseas African domestic workers, otherwise called “house-girls”, caught my attention recently.
BBC Swahili and other media outlets reported Ugandan, Vicky Ajok, charged with the murder of her 87 year old employer veteran Syria actress, Huda Shaarawi in Damascus in January. Vicky Ajok facing death by hanging or beheading, according to the country’s laws.
In a video released by Syrian Minister of Justice, Vicky Ajok alleged she was subjected to prolonged mistreatment by her employer, including beatings, food denial, poison threats plus unpaid wages dispute.
Last weekend, I listened to Ugandan Foreign Minister, Okello Oryen, clarifying the state position on the matter. Efforts were on via the Egyptian foreign affairs ministry to try and change the sentence that is alleged to have been unfair.
Ugandan viewers comments to the Minister’s YouTube clip expressed displeasure.
Chiding: “Don’t just sit, send envoy there.”
Personal: “Your stomach is about to explode Honorable! But thank you for speaking.”
More chiding: “What are you people from Northern Uganda doing, going to a bad country like Syria?”
Political: “Ugandans should know … these Arabs are racist; she could be framed, we need independent investigation and lawyers in this case.”
Next episode was in a Tanzania Diaspora Whats-App group.
A Tik Tok plea, from a Tanzanian domestic help, pleaded assistance from Oman.
She said in Swahili: “Naomba msaada niludi nyumbani…”
Added that she has stomach ulcers from the stress. That she came to work here so as to help her poor family. That the agency that found the job has been unhelpful. Can President Samia Suluhu Hassan please, assist, she asked.
Note the word, NILUDI should be NIRUDI…hinting semi-illiteracy. Such is the demographic (or statistical analysis) composition of these domestic females. Not much formal education; desperately seeking employment overseas, whatever risks.
According to figures and studies from Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 20% of world migrant workers are domestic.
Lately the number of East and West Africans, in the Middle East region has surpassed those from Asia. This is after Asian authorities sought to protect their workers from the bad situation.
In 2019, records indicated 87,784 Kenyans in the Gulf States and 59,000 Ugandans in the general Middle East zone.
As of 2020, Tanzanians’ numbers were 327,863; of these 50.4% females.
Last year’s studies claim thousands subjected to excessive hours of toil with less pay, physical and sexual abuse. A domestic worker said in a 2017 HRW interview:
“The employers’ houses were too big and salary very little. I was working in four houses for 50 Rials (130 US Dollars) per month.” When she allegedly told her agent she wanted to return she was told her passport was held by her boss; and to “shut up!”
The HRW interviewed 87 workers and concluded, “Tanzanian, Omani and UAE governments failure to protect Tanzanian domestic workers…”
In such circumstances witness some of the viewers’ comments reacting to the Whats-App cited desperate Oman domestic helper.
Accusatory.
“You just wanted to experience aeroplanes – stop this nonsense. Continue working. There is no agent who will accept losing money over you.”
Harsher:
“Idiot. Oman is full of Tanzanians, how come you say you are suffering?”
Plus a laughing Emoji. Ridiculing her.
Second category offered solutions:
“At home there are many employment opportunities. It’s just some of us do not want to have a correct mindset.”
Or
“Tanzanian embassy in Oman knows all its agents. Go to the embassy.”
More realistic:
“Some do get good bosses, some get cruel ones. Go to the Tanzanian embassy in Oman they will help you return.”
Third category sounded sympathetic:
“Do not blame our dear sister. Some of these Arabs are worse than dogs.”
Or
“DM me, I shall help you.”
In August 2022, it was reported that a family of an Ugandan domestic worker who died following alleged abuse, protested vehemently against Saudi Arabian authorities.
The husband of the deceased, Caroline Kyomuhangi, was quoted saying she had left Uganda in December 2021 through an external labour recruiting company and placed in a family as housemaid. After 6 months Caroline started complaining of “physical abuse at the hands of her employer.”
But is it only Arabic employers?
Back in 2008, I reported the plight of two Tanzanian domestic helps who had suffered mental and psychological abuse at the hands of UK based Tanzanian Asians. The young females were eventually assisted by the Tanzanian women association.
How about black or African bosses? Any better?
Let us hear your views, reader.
Airoroki, if you speak Kima’asai.
