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Put Yourself In Her Shoes

Kuwait has the highest ratio of domestic workers to citizens in the Middle East. The country’s more than 660,000 migrant domestic workers constitute nearly a third of the work force in this small Gulf country of only 1.3 million citizens. But domestic workers are excluded from the labor laws that protect other workers. They have minimal protection against employers who withhold salaries, force employees to work long hours with no days off, deprive them of adequate food, or abuse them physically or sexually.

[YouTube]

104 replies on “Put Yourself In Her Shoes”

I like the ads and empathize; however, I’m going to critique them now.

Never seen a domestic worker in 4″ platform heels (how many women of any nationality wear 4″ platform heels to iron clothes??) Never seen domestic workers wearing jewelry, or a new abaya… to do housework. Have you? I would really prefer the ads to be realistic portrayals of domestic workers in Kuwait.

Desert girl the person ironing is suppose to be a Kuwaiti woman filling in the role of a maid, hence the “put yourself in her shoes”…………………………………………………….

Anyways this ad won’t help change anything really. The only way this problem will get remedied is if the government decides to do something about it, through inspections and setting up laws to deal with.

Bottom line nothing is going to change anytime soon.

Not really a hard hitting advert is it? Not really likely to make you rush out and protest in the streets- seems to me the people who made it were quite half hearted about the whole issue.
I spent the whole advert wondering if she’d bought her shoes in Prince or Next and whether the rings were real or fake……

I said it once and I’ll say it again: abusers should be arrested, escorted to the police station, slapped around a bit…maybe throw an empty can of juice at their face, should be fined like a hardcore fine, and fianly should be stripped off any right to be a kafeel to bring in maids from the outside!

I hate the fact that they make it seem like its the norm! most of the ppl don’t tourcher their maids and those who do are most likely not readying this blog or looking for ur utube videos. target ur audience. try starting with schools!

@T. lol

——

Now no one is against the idea….

but what I dont like is human right’s watch presences in kuwait … I want this to be a local kuwaiti effort… when international org become nosey they are intruding on the country’s sovereignty… (yes they can offer advise but not be the executor of the project)

where is human rights watch with the burq ban issue in france? doesn’t this go against human rights to wear what they want?

Where is human rights watch with the church kids abuse in the U.S… and U.K.?

As one egyptian diplomat once said … “human rights in 3rd world countries are political tools used by the west (other than sanctions, and financial incentives) to push forth there agenda… and new age imperalism… ” .. one way or another 🙂

give me proof of what is said is true…

I can say …”oh there is 1 billion workers that are abused everyday”

nice jiber jabar but where is the real imperical evidence?

again am with the idea… just dont like the way things are run.

ThwRex if you are a shame to be from KUWAIT plz plz do us a favor and dont be just leave your nationality 9adgne alot of people will die for it

I can’t believe that most of you don’t actually ACCEPT that there is a problem with domestic abuse here in Kuwait. Ok, not everyone may physically or sexually abuse their domestic help, but don’t all of you “smart” people know that there are other types of abuse such as PSYCHOLOGICAL abuse– which can be even worse than physical because those scars don’t easily heal? Not receiving your hard-earned salary on time, not getting a day off for rest, being sat in the trunk of a family’s SUV while 2 kids are comfortably roaming around in the back seat (I see it all the time) are ALSO considered abusive and most of all humiliating! Also, getting paid a miserable wage of 40/50KD a month is considered abusive. How can ANYONE survive on that? Just because you offer them a tiny closet (which you call a bedroom) to sleep in doesn’t give you the right to pay them a miserable salary. The reason they are working for you in the first place is because they are in need of money. People complain about paying a domestic helper 40KD/month, but you never hear them complaining when they they spend 40-50 KD at Open Flame Kitchen or PF Changs… People bitch about paying for their visa to get them here, but they don’t complain when they spend 700KD + on a designer handbag or on a fancy laptop/mobile phone…

Those of you who do not realize that this is a serious issue are probably living in LaLa land in your fancy apartments, receiving your nice fat paychecks, and driving around in your fancy cars without a care in the world. WAKE UP. Malls, mobiles, fancy cars, and high end designer clothing aren’t going to get you anywhere. Just because you LOVE Kuwait and you choose to close your eyes and ignore that there are serious issues going on here, does not mean these issues don’t exist.

It’s very sad and most of all EMBARRASSING that the Gulf has give itself this sort of tacky reputation– and most of all when other 3rd world countries start telling their lower income citizens NOT to come and work here. Don’t you read the news? I hope more housekeepers and laborers come out and face those who physically or psychologically abuse them. Those inhumane bastards who don’t know how to treat their domestic helpers need to be punished to the full extent of the law (if there is actually one around here that is enforced).

I agree, not everyone abuses their domestic help, but there are labor laws that need to be placed and severely enforced around here. Why, because they’re human. They are someones daughter, son, brother, father, mother, etc– if it were someone in your family who was a domestic helper, you would want the same for them. Telling someone to GTFO is the most common, immature and stupidest response to anything around here– and it is the solution to nothing. You want a local campaign? Then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Or are you expecting someone else to do that work for you too???

And by the way, a family pays 700KD to get them here, but the domestic helper does not see a dime of this. THE FAMILY members are the ones that want him/her here to do the things that THEY are too lazy to do (i.e. cooking, cleaning, carrying your groceries, washing your car, driving you to the mall, raising your kids, etc). What i don’t understand is that many people don’t even work, stay at home all day and STILL have a live-in housekeeper/driver…?? What do you do with yourselves all day???

its ugly but its true … i feel it u feel it … can we do something ? NO it will never change .. never 🙂

@TweeZ I agree with you 100%. In addition to all that TweeZ said, the abusers ‘Name and Picture’ should be published in all ‘English & Arabic Newspapers’ in Kuwait regardless if they are male or female, Kuwaiti or Non-Kuwaiti.

I agree this is a problem of sorts in Kuwait… but in NO WAY do I believe it’s as large an issue as it’s being made out to be. Don’t get me wrong, when even ONE person is abused or mistreated it’sa crime and should be treated as such. However, there are a very large number of domestic employees who file cases against their sponsors for things that are simply untrue. They do this for a number of reasons.

Again, I’m not saying this issue doesn’t exist. But I firmly believe the statistics are inaccurate. The Human Rights report is based on criminal reports filed — there’s no one to determine if these cases filed are accurate or fabricated. I personally know of an American man who moved a domestic employee into his apartment in Mahboula, and encouraged her to file false charges against her sponsor so HE could then sponsor her, marry her, drag her back to America, etc.

Yeah, maybe I sound cold and cruel, but this isn’t the case. I just don’t believe ANYONE should be victimized — including the sponsors.

@desert girl

I believe you got your answer, its supposed to be a kuwaiti woman playing that role

@P
I agree completely

@T / S / dalal

I hope you guys wake up someday!

BRAVO P.. you said it all… I also wonder what they do all day… no wonder they look like a fat chrismas tree with way to much dangel.

If we only can get the private sponsor crap out of the way the workers can at least leave when they want.

Desert girl.. boooomer

“where is human rights watch with the burq ban issue in france? doesn’t this go against human rights to wear what they want?”

Just to comment on this issue, and I know this digressing from the issue…

No one critiques Kuwait, not any GCC country, for not allowing people to eat during fasting hours in Ramadan…

Countries have the right to dictate laws in their country. If Kuwait goes ahead and dictates that it is Legal to beatup your workers, Human Rights watch would butt itself out…certainly, workers would probably be harder to find, but since its the law, it would be protected.

I just hate people who criticize the west for trying to restrict the freedom of Islamic extremists, and claim human rights infringements…

@Q8

and @ American Girl

I’m sorry…to the people saying “The media’s blowing things out of proportion”, what media outlet are you people mentioning? did I miss a full on flooding of front pages and billboards etc?

The only place I saw this campaign is on a few blogs…thats it and to you thats still blowing it out of proportion?

Right because teachers complaining about working 25 extra minutes a day is more worthy of the front page…people who work from dawn till late at night don’t deserve the same coverage. This is our national shame and our who country is in denial I’m afrain..shoot the messenger if you wish.

Kaleedo, no offense, but my source of ‘news’ and ‘media’ isn’t a ‘few blogs’.

Are you unaware of the black listing of Kuwait by the US? Or by the recently released Human Rights report as of 2010? Or perhaps the one released in 2008 which is even more exaggerated than the most recent? Or even the local newspapers in Kuwait which report every single case filed by a domestic employee (of abuse, rape, etc), yet fail to follow up with the outcome of a PROPER investigation and/or trial.

My comments are not based on this campaign alone, but on months of extensive research into this topic for work related research.

No offense, but a ‘like’ button on Facebook doesn’t constitute reporting.

Kuwait have this problem for long time and we can claim some of it on the Egyptians who bring their own house keeper (maid) as added to their visa exactly like the movies sleeping on the kitchen floor or on the balcony which used to have the A/C unit then leaving them to care for the husbands at summer time who turn them into mistress. Then the Kuwaiti what is sad I have been in the presence of the richest Kuwaiti in the 70/80 who compete of bringing their drivers stories or helpers as who abused them more. I was a friend and couldn’t speak up as much criticizing: Is this what Islam about.

I heard many stories as I kept them confidential to protect the worker not the employer as these people can tell when I used to refuse any one carry my stuff to the car or if I have to ride their cars to open for me as I don’t believe in slavery- we are not talking about etiquette’s here before some one attacks my comment. I despised a lot and disrespected many of my friends. I couldn’t show such to protect these weak workers whom are in needs for every KD they can save, speaking of such: What the hell is any one business to record your worker at home their conversation to give it to another Indian or Filipino to translate. For me hiring some one to take care of my children I will treat them with the best methods so they don’t poison my kids with their actions NOT real poison…

Being an educator (Early Childhood), I wrote an article that I have to omit the words: MOTHER, FATHER of my curriculum because I liked the children (KG) to be involved in the subject. So, if I have to ask:
Who dresses you/ who drives you/ who feeds you? Because I was worried that time if I ask another question: WHO sleeps with your mother/ or father. SO, I omit teaching these two words. I thought since I wrote more articles YOU think any changes for better. NO. The children of the 1970/80 growing up seeing their family abuse thinks this is the norm which it is NOT, so the cycle will go on and on,,,,,,

But to be fair for Kuwait or the Gulf, look at America they have it fancier after the middle man get his commission the girls even boys at young age are also kidnapped for sex trafficking. THIS ISSUE is very sad WORLDWIDE and some of you mentioned the political gain behind it. Right. All our issues are political BUT if we don’t do something about it, NOT only by talking or commenting.

IF, you save one person as you saved a village. By the way, I left Kuwait on my own will as I was threaten many times to be fired because I stood for what is right and I gained a lot of respect luckily.

There is only one family whom I respect highly not to mention names BUT they own most of Kuwait of all electronics who treated their crew highly on my time! ! !

It is not going to be resolved as some one said overnight, but we have to work on it AND, put yourself in their shoes (it doesn’t have to be high heel which it was used in the ad to show that we use these people for sexual work too. The high heel represents sexuality more than the abuse).

@American Girl

In what way are those reports exaggerated? Why should I believe you ahead of paid bodies whose information is actually based on data rather than hearsay?

David, I’m not asking you to believe me over anyone — paid or not. However, don’t assume I don’t get paid as well.

Regardless, the reports are exaggerated based on skewed numbers. Numbers are skewed based on filing of false police reports. When human rights organizations do their reporting, they use these statistics to generate information which is then shared. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not using these numbers with malintent — they ASSUME they’re accurate and that investigations have taken place. They are honestly reporting what the numbers show. Unfortunately, it’s the numbers which don’t show the true accuracy.

But, again, I would like to say… abuse or mistreatment of ANYONE is a crime, and should be treated as such. I am not saying abuse of domestic workers doesn’t take place in Kuwait (or other countries). Yet I do KNOW the information used to report these statistics to the general public is inaccurate.

The only real way to help is to slowly stop using maids altogether. Yeah it’s hard but that’s the whole point!
We are in 2010 not the 1930’s, most everyone in the rest of the world is more independent now except ppl in the middle east that still can’t do the laundry themselves wtf.

No offence to the people saying this is blown out of proportion – but this has been a problem since the 90s and its only escalating. If you are not part of the ‘lower’ strata of society, which clearly neither of you are … then you are not going to be in places to see whats going on. Do you know any maid who has a clear understanding of expensive restaurants? it works the other way too…

But the hint that ‘maid jumps from balcony’ at one time was a FREQUENT news story in kuwait newspapers should have clued you in. although it was in a tiny blurb and usually painting it in such that the maid was suicidal instead of a)trying to escape or b) being pushed or c)yes suicide but after not being fed for days on end, beaten raped etc.

it is a BIG issue in Kuwait. If you are so blind as to think otherwise or claim ‘research’ then im sorry but your claims are – to put it nicely -just bullshit.

Go do some real research.

Indonesian embassy
Filipino Embassy
Ethiopian Embassy
Deportation centers in shuwaikh and jleeb
worker camps

Talk is cheap and quoting US state department reports which ANYONE can access and saying they are blown out of proportion is nothing at all. Gone are the days where people that offered opinions were actually supposed to be informed about what they were speaking on.

When you have visited these areas and ALL of them, then we can take your word for it that yeah its all blown out of proportion. otherwise – sorry no dice!

@American Girl
And the lack of subsequent prosecutions/guilty verdicts isn’t exactly indicative of anything except the imbalance in rights/power/money/wasta of those who are able to employ the domestic workers and those who actually do the work.
You may think it is exaggerated, but there doesn’t seem to be a day when I don’t open up the local papers and another maid has jumped from whatever floor of a building to their death or been taken to hospital for physical or sexual abuse. And these are the cases that get reported. It doesn’t take much of an imagination to realize how many don’t.

Nibbles, to say I haven’t seen these things personally is not only outrageously inaccurate, but a horrible assumption on your part. I personally know of a maid (‘owned’ by a family member of a friend) who is now deaf in her right ear from being slapped so many times. She was then deemed ‘stupid’ and ‘sold’ to another member of the family. So yes, I have seen these things, and it’s devastating to me. Especially coming from a place where labor laws and human rights are very closely monitored and are quite effective (America).

On the other side of that, I’ve seen more families treat their domestic help like a respected employee. Paying their salaries on time (or in advance upon request), giving them sufficient time off, ensuring they share meals with the family and not alone, providing all of their clothing and food so they don’t have to spend their salary, etc.

Additionally, don’t assume I haven’t visited any of the places on your list — or interviewed individuals in deportation centers. However, the purpose of my research isn’t to substantiate the claims made by human rights organizations, but to show the ‘other side’ of that coin.

Finally, resorting to foul language to make a point? Seriously?

nibbles Yeah I guess she told you before she died.

US state department reports?

Isn’t that the same country that allows Illegal immigrants to be taken advantige of and get paid less than the minimum wage? And DO NOTHING??!!

My question to all of you who love peace, happiness, perfect world and angels flying.. Why stay in this country if you are treated like shit?? Why accpect the insults and still say in it?

Wait, I’ll answer it for you. to save you the hassle of arguing with me. because I don’t have time for this kind of Bullshit.

“Its because Kuwait is way better that your country and thats why you accept the shit that you get here than the OVER LOAD shit you get from your own country”

This country has laws and eveyone should obey and respect it. You can read what you want and believe what you want.

You make it look like we live in a jungle.

Seriously American Girl…are you for real.
You can go with me to a few of my job sites and see how the workers work.. or live. My DOG lives better. And then count the amount of towers/villa’s there is beeing build at the moment. SHAME ON YOU for beeing educated and western.

Media is bullshit, they write what they can fill on a page and sell AD space. You should talk to the pedicure gurl, or the guy who fills your gas. Ask him/her how much he/she earns, where he sleeps, and what he eat everyday. If you cant find the time to ask, I can tell you.

The burga issue some of you mentioned … wow it hurts deep in their stomach to remove a scarf… it is religions mambo to cover up a womans hair and you all know it.. to remove it is not going to make you go hungry for days if not weeks.

@Q8 All in One
Dear me. So predictable. If people discuss a problem in this country, your response is to say ‘get out.’ Very constructive.
And no, Kuwait is not way better. I suggest you travel more.

Its a good campaign. They look like they thought about it or researched the idea and decided not to push too hard. I’m sure they expected the denial and anger that comes from anyone who tries to criticize Kuwait in any way…as seen in these responses to the post.

I want to give you one issue that US had regarding the Mexican illegal immigrant whom US citizen or Mexican US citizen who abuse his own people because he got to be in power forgetting his past to bring them in trucks through the borders then use them in agriculture working like animals because they are not allowed to leave the field,,, so what these people do ( pee and pooh) all over the crops adding to the genetic modified food we do here we get all our food on recalls of salmonella, e-coli and WE pay enough of our taxes for the FDA because we have an arrogant government to use the issue for political reason and WHERE is the human right agencies here.

SO, at the end KUWAIT is not the only abuser, as much the families who bring them need to get off their butt and start taking care of their own children or better NOT married too. Honestly, I see no point why God gave you hands to the people who can clean their mess.

Some comment here also might be from abused individual? who is scared to express, I do recommend NOT to go to their embassy because they won’t help them real good, just find a way silently then get a ticket and their passport which is locked with the abuser employer and this is the worst form of abuse too – HOLDING some one identity.

D’fineline, are you angry that some people make more money than others? Or live a better life than some? This is simply reality — every country has its rich and its poor.

As for what the ‘laborers’ are paid (and this will sound cruel), it’s MUCH more than they make in their own country, otherwise they wouldn’t be in Kuwait. Are you aware 5 years of service in Kuwait at 70KD a month provides enough money to purchase a HOME in the places many of these people come from. Do you think they flock to Kuwait to make LESS money? Give ME a break!

It appears as though you’re so absorbed in self you’re failing to see outside of your own comfort zone, your own paycheck, etc. Are you aware some of these people who live 10 in a 1 bedroom apartment in Kuwait consider this COMFORT and even LUXURY? Just because YOU couldn’t live in those conditions doesn’t mean others aren’t perfectly happy there. Perhaps it’s YOU who should have a real conversation with the pedicurist — and stop projecting your own lifestyle onto others and then being angry becuase Kuwait doesn’t follow suit.

Finally, IF Kuwait is such a horrible, abusive, terrifying place to work — WHY do so many accept jobs here? You are aware no one is holding a gun to their head, right? And surely, if it’s SO horrible, the stories of abuse would spread like wildfire throughout their home countries — preventing others from applying for, or taking positions in Kuwait.

Perhaps your pedicurist pulled the wool over your eyes while the man pumping your gas checked out your wallet?

David, why not say ‘get out’? I mean, it is THEIR country after all. Who are we westerners to travel the world and then tell OTHERS how they should make changes? If we’re not happy — leave. It’s quite simple. Or at least accept their way of life, learn their culture, and turn the other cheek if necessary. But the audacity to sit around in someone else’s home and point fingers… shameful.

@American Girl
You have got to be joking! You need to take a good look at yourself. You have the most warped and dysfunctional ‘politically correct’ attitude I’ve ever had the displeasure of hearing. Abuse of fellow human beings isn’t a cultural difference, it’s a crime, and that should be vehemently criticized wherever it happens. Seriously, the mind boggles at your attitude.

@American Girl
I think you need an economic reality check. Many of these workers are massively in debt after paying to get here in the first place – not to mention being fed lies about what they will find once they are here. And what kind of home do you actually envisage that a person could buy after 5 years of earning 70KD, note EARNING 70KD a month, not SAVING? You are living in cloud cuckooland.

And yes, I’m sure people just love living 10 to a room. Clearly, that is indeed luxurious living conditions. Really, you should stop posting in this thread because you are just embarrassing yourself.

@David and co.
I know A LOT of domestic workers who earn more than 70KD. Personally, my parents pay their domestic worker 400 KD. Her full salary is sent via western union the day she receives it on the 25 of each month, I believe. Other expenses are on them.

So no I don’t think its a big issue in Kuwait because all the people around me do treat these people with respect. It may be an issue idk. If it is we certainly should do something about it.

FYI not all kuwaitis live in villas some actually live from paycheck to paycheck.

Unless ur kuwaiti please don’t criticize. I live in the US and I certainly don’t go on blogs criticizing the entire US population (all 100mil and so of them) about the mistreatment of Mexicans.

American Girl:
I have the curiosity since I noticed many were attacking your comments. SO, I just read from your blog (About) as I don’t like to waste my time on proud people of being American who don’t understand the value of the meaning so I copied this to ask you:
“My life in the Middle East is filled with great friends, valuable people, experiences no other place on earth could offer, happiness, pain, deserts, cities, and personal growth. I’m proud to be an American, but comfortable knowing I’m capable of moving to the other side of the world and creating serenity and bonds which can never be broken.”

– You know why your life is filled with great friends, because you can hardly find such in America.
– IF you know how to use the system in America you will develop experiences also never seen in another world.
– SO, are you in Kuwait for the NO tax on your paycheck at the end, or since I don’t know your job if you go away with some paid cash???
– What can you tell me describing your self of being capable in creating ——what you mentioned about yourself of serenity blah blah , what did you really accomplished to be proud off as helping one employee even emotionally.
– ALL your talk about your self is materials , I might be wrong but this is the danger of the Internet. I took what you said about yourself.
– I like to read what have you accomplished as you mentioned in one comment of months of research or are they confidential and who ever put these numbers are wrong when we compare reality.

Because when people make a choice to scarify their culture and life for better money in another country, I’m sorry to say: WHO the hell you think you are talking down on these people? WITHOUT such people even the highways or train stations would never be built worldwide. NO one should abuse another because they accept that job. American are the worst people in treating their employee like slavery. Have you seen any department full of 200 hundred people 80% Filipino NOT abused as much as used which is similar to that.

You reminded me with a Kuwaiti female architect, she thought by having graduated engineer saying: Kuwait for the KUWAITI,,,,,,I wrote back commenting so we better wait to see buildings falling down because also Kuwaiti on my time were lazy buying people to do the job.

PROUD American Girl: Remember that this country (America) was found and is still thriving on pirates. YES, I’m American and I’m the proud Middle Eastern who brought beauty to this country. You might be very nice person but in this issue I don’t like what I read.

I have a comment to say when I feel the comments are becoming tasteless and harmful to the cause, I don’t respond because it is not worth talking to small brains. I prefer to use my energy helping another abused soul.

I felt so bad when I foound out that a gardener who works in his sponsors villa most of the day was being allowed to go home for leave for the first time in 8 years. He was told that he would have to pay for his own ticket. He had not saved much to take back .

American girl

I come from one of these countries – how ignorant can you be? 10 people in 1 room is luxury? uhhhhh even in slums in india that doesnt often happen. Probably even more rare for people that have building skills and can be hired as labourers. So no you don’t actually know what you are talking about. You dont know that contracting companies in these countries promise much more than these people actually recieve… so yes they do come thinking they are getting a better deal but no they do not get it often. Do these things spread like wildfire? ummm depends on how many go back – you are aware that companies hold these workers passports often and completely disallow them from travelling? I suppose there was a workers strike because they were super happy that things are going much better than they are at home. Or that for some reason, AGAINST the law they are made to work in 50 degree heat and none of the public temperature readings ever tell the truth about teh real temperature. yeah luxury.

no one is projecting anything here but you – probably because in truth you do have good kuwaiti friends who do the right thing etc etc. but you dont know the whole of kuwait, you dont know the majority of kuwaity, you dont even know a tenth of kuwait – you know a tiny tiny subsection of society that probably do actually justify your views. But that doesnt allow you to look at what others have assessed as being a REAL problem and say that its overblown. Your claim to knowing anything about this issue is whats overblown

“but you dont know the whole of kuwait, you dont know the majority of kuwaity, you dont even know a tenth of kuwait – you know a tiny tiny subsection of society that probably do actually justify your views”

Taken from my mouth

dalal – Im not the only Kuwaiti ashamed of my country. Especially when its an apartheid state that segregates between men and women, Kuwaitis and multinationals etc…

To S.

Although I agree that 1st world countries have terrible human rights records as well, they still give more rights to their people. A few months back a Sri Lankan national day festival-that was fully permitted-was stopped short because some idiots in beards didnt like its timing or venue. Would this have happened in the US? I dont think so.

And your claims that these humans rights organizations will undermine our sovereignty, are just funny. Two US Army bases in Kuwait anyone?

Its an epidemic, I feel terribly sorry for any multinational who’s rough life dragged into Kuwait. They go through hell here. Imagine having to be someones slave for a whole day and having a 50 60 70 80kd pay check to show for it!?!?!
Thats just terrible and anyone defending it is immoral.

As for the personal attacks on me — ummm, shouldn’t you people be more focused on the ‘abuse’ taking place in Kuwait? Isn’t that the topic of this thread? Oh wait — verbally assaulting a stranger on the internet, who is simply sharing her knowledge and opinion, is far more important?

As I’ve already stated (3 times?) abuse of ANY person is a crime and should be treated as such. Seriously, relax, people — I’m not heading up some human trafficking firm.

NS, I pay my US taxes, I don’t work in Kuwait, and in my ‘about me’ section I mention nothing material, only the value my life in the Middle East has offered through friends, etc. Flattered you were so interested though. And for someone who chooses not to comment on ‘small brains’ you sure invested a bit of time doing so. Nice contradiction of sorts. Cute.

Nibbles, to say you come from ‘one of these countries’ means what exactly? You know every resident? Visited every home? Seriously, you don’t know how every person in your neighborhood lives, much less an entire country. How pompous to make such a statement. And yes, I do have many Kuwaiti friends who do the right thing in regard to their domestic help — and some who don’t. Yet I would never be so bold as to comment on how an entire country of people behave. However, please note — I also know a number of former maids who have absconded from their Kuwaiti sponsors because standing in front of Al Kut tossing their phone numbers at American men offered more potential. Of course this doesn’t mean ALL maids do this. Where are you from by the way? Just curious 🙂

For the rest of you who made derogatory, negative, hateful statements directed at me — I’m sure glad I don’t work as your maid 🙂 If simple words can manipulate your tempers to this degree, imagine if I failed to do the laundry in a timely manner! Oh my.

I will only make one comment on this issue: when a wrong-doing is pointed out (such as abuse of workers), it does not solve anything by pointing out, “Oh, yeah, well what about XYZ problem in YOUR country??” – to quote Dr. Phil (who I don’t want often, but I like this quote), ‘You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge.”

Until Kuwait (and Kuwaitis) acknowledges that there is a problem, nothing is going to happen.

So the question is NOT, “Is it better in Kuwait for workers than in their home countries?”, but the question is, “How can we make it better for workers IN Kuwait?”

@American Girl
Errmm, “But the audacity to sit around in someone else’s home and point fingers… shameful.”
Exactly who is attacking who here?

And where have people been commenting on how an entire nation behaves? People are simply saying it is an issue, a very important issue, whereas you, for whatever reason, seem keen to downplay it. Abuse goes on in this country. Domestic workers conditions can often be poor, and some workers suffer terrible abuse. More should be done to help and protect such people, preferably in a stronger and more binding legal framework. Please explain to me what is wrong with saying that. I’m fascinated. And don’t bother telling me it’s a cultural issue again, because it self-evidently is not.

American gurl.. you should considere to work in some others shoes for some time. And of course you will get hate comments back.. when you speak from your ass like that.

It is true when the labours come they are already in deep dept, why would they leave their families behind for years if they where not.

I see a big change on the rise next year with the kefeel removal.. let hope and pray for it to happen for the benefit of the weak.

The End

What else can you expect in a country where a person’s nationality can be synonymous with a cuss word.
Don’t get my point?
just try calling a local buddy of yours a ‘Bangali’ and see how he takes it….

David,

Umm, “You need to take a good look at yourself. You have the most warped and dysfunctional ‘politically correct’ attitude I’ve ever had the displeasure of hearing.” Well, it seems it was YOU who was attacking, no?

Now, can you show me WHERE I stated abuse does NOT take place in Kuwait? Or where I attempted to blame this behavior on culture? Are you just making things up, throwing them out there, and hoping something sticks? If you want to partake in a debate, you need to use a factual foundation to base statements on.

I will say this for clarification purposes (AGAIN) — YES, I have NO doubt abuse takes place in Kuwait as I have seen it with my OWN eyes. However, I KNOW the statistics used to generate reports by human rights agencies are INACCURATE. Not fake, not false, not fabricated — but simply not 100% ACCURATE. Furthermore, in NO WAY have I attempted to defend mistreatment of ANY person (or animal for that matter). Mistreatment and abuse of a person is a CRIME (even though they are not protected by labor laws, they ARE protected under judicial law). ANYONE who mistreats a domestic employee (or anyone else) should be PUNISHED in a court of law AFTER a full investigation.

Is this clear enough for you, David? Or would you like to spew more nonsensical drivel and pretend it’s reality? Offended? Well, I find your fabrications and semantical games equally as offensive.

At the end of the day — Kuwait is NOT our country. Sure, human rights all over the WORLD should be protected, and I support this more than you’re aware. However, to sit back, point fingers, and imply this abuse is as common in Kuwait as the sun shining is simply an obtuse assumption. There are ALWAYS two sides to every story — my goal is to provide evidence which supports the OTHER vicitims in these cases — the ones falsely accused. Shouldn’t they have rights as well?

@American Girl,

Look at the order of the posts!! It’s called responding to your ridiculous post.
And I didn’t say you denied abuse took place, I said you were down playing it, which you were.
And er, the thread is about abuse of domestic workers and you included this in the post I responded to:

“Who are we westerners to travel the world and then tell OTHERS how they should make changes? If we’re not happy — leave. It’s quite simple. Or at least accept their way of life, learn their culture, and turn the other cheek if necessary. But the audacity to sit around in someone else’s home and point fingers… shameful.”
What exactly do you think that is flat out stating?? Good grief.

It is not I who is spewing nonsensical drivel, it is you. Try re-reading your posts and think about what you were saying. It was offensive. Hence the responses you received from quite a number of people.

And how am I playing semantic games? I am responding to your posts. It is you who once again is playing games and fabricating points: “to sit back, point fingers, and imply this abuse is as common in Kuwait as the sun shining is simply an obtuse assumption.” Who, may I ask said that?

Your points were flat out wrong before and now you are simply trying to defend yourself by making up stuff. It’s not others who are being inaccurate – it is quite clearly you.

David, in no way do I need to defend my statements. However, I am attempting to point out there are two sides to every story. You’ve turned this into a personal debate between you and I, and an attack on my character.

How were my comments offensive? Because they didn’t agree with yours? Personally, I enjoy the thoughts and ideas of others, and even embrace them as a learning tool. I don’t see a difference of opinion as one being ‘ridiculous’. I accept there are two sides to a story — and I want to know them both. I don’t latch onto one and then attack anyone who longs to know more. This is what you’ve done.

Furthermore, the reason I’m the one under attack here is because I don’t agree with the masses. If I were a follower and said, “Oh yes, it takes place all the time and let’s jump in and fix it!” then I would simply be one of you — which would allow you back into your comfort zone of similarities. I won’t apologize for having a different opinion — nor will I apologize for defending the victims of the ones who claim to have been victimized.

My statements have been cut and dry — and unfortunately repeated for clarification far too many times. The subject of this thread has been lost in your disdain for opinions which differ from your own. If you want to continue your personal attack on me, have enough respect for Mark to do so in another forum. I can be reached via email at [email protected]. Note: That’s not an invitation to continue this debate as it’s clear you have your opinions and I have mine. It’s simply a way to point out the level of disrespect you’ve taken this to.

American Girl,this is getting tedious, so I’ll make it my last post.

You seem to be posting comment after comment trying to give what you mistakenly think is ‘the other side of the story.’ What you are saying isn’t the other side of the story. If, and that’s a very big if, there is such a thing, then it would be all those domestic workers who are actually well treated, not those workers who bring false accusations against employers. But more to the point, it doesn’t make any difference if some workers are well treated because that in no way, shape, or from mitigates the abuse of other individuals. Honestly, I really don’t get what you are trying to prove with your comments, and quite frankly, your wishy-washy-two-sides-to-every-storyness is seriously annoying.

ppl, all these posts won’t change facts..

just go back a bit and think, some people say it started back in the 90s right? well the issue is that many kuwaitis were raise by the maids (mostly philipinos and indians) which had a lack of education and treated those kids wrong, then those kids grew up and now the also have maid to raise their children in a bad way plus they get use to insulting the maid and hitting them which led the children to do the same..

The problem is bigger then just labbor law, people have to respect the maid as the respect each other. they have to aducate themselves that this is a worker NOT a slave.

Finally even though we all wrote down what we think, I hope even person is reading this blog to respect their house maid and treat her well, plus if he so a maid being abused please advise the people who they hired her and tell them “put urself in her shoe”

This advert is full of bullshit…
The foreign workers make up more than two thirds of the Kuwaiti population. Incidents of mistreatment are bound to happen considering the large population. However advertising this way and making it look as if kuwaiti are mistreating their servants is offending, insulting, and misrepresenting of the truth.

Kuwaitis have had servants in their homes all of their lives. Unlike other countries in the region, kuwaities have always lived with those servants and if u look at our history you’ll see how they blended in our community and becme part of us.

How can a family. Mistreat a servant and not feed them IF they are living among them in their houses, handling their kids, and preparing their food?!how can they mistreat a servant then sleep wih them under the same roof without fearing on their lives or their kids?!

If anything this advert is slander… What they should have done is tackle some of the issues that those workers suffer from by tackling the source directly and not putting up such a nonsense advert.

American Girl.

just read lots of your blog. I think I understand the psychological underpinnings of where you are coming from. You do like to have a ordered, happy view of the world and when something like this messes it up it disturbs you, as it does for all of us. But come on – you spend your time in a completely different type of society than the people we are talking about. you travel, you go to theatre, go shopping, do things to fill your day with activity and hold idealistic views about things like life love and happiness. s’not real, woman!

The last comment summarizes the culture of denial and entitlement prevalent amonst us Kuwaities.

Wake up, fellow citizens. The problem is real. Our minds have gone down in the last decades as we get fat and lazy and live off of Earths resources (as if we put them there, rather than Allah). Those who deny this are living a bad lie.

And, whats more; mistreatment and faulty assumptions of superiority are ingrained in our mindset. This is our curse not our blessing, this faulted groupthink.

The reality is that more than 80% of us have no business keeping servants. In fact, many citizens who take a government salary cannot afford servants but by the grace of Allah and Kuwait they are able to bring servants. In most any other developed country, these 80% of Kuwaitis would be servants themselves.

Those of us who would abuse and humilate other humans should mind their place in Allah’s eyes.

Allah will be the best judge, no wonder it’s a truth the weak and poor will enter jannah 500 years earlier than the wealthy

Three words: “Modern Day Slavery”

No matter which way you slice it most expat workers in this country are not treated fairly in one way or the other. If they don’t like it then they should be able to go home on their own free will. If they are not allowed to do so then that is a REAL PROBLEM.

“This advert is full of bullshit…
The foreign workers make up more than two thirds of the Kuwaiti population. Incidents of mistreatment are bound to happen considering the large population. However advertising this way and making it look as if kuwaiti are mistreating their servants is offending, insulting, and misrepresenting of the truth.

Kuwaitis have had servants in their homes all of their lives. Unlike other countries in the region, kuwaities have always lived with those servants and if u look at our history you’ll see how they blended in our community and becme part of us.

How can a family. Mistreat a servant and not feed them IF they are living among them in their houses, handling their kids, and preparing their food?!how can they mistreat a servant then sleep wih them under the same roof without fearing on their lives or their kids?!

If anything this advert is slander… What they should have done is tackle some of the issues that those workers suffer from by tackling the source directly and not putting up such a nonsense advert.”

7abibi inta mo shayif shay, wela tadry shisalfa

The thread is somewhat hijacked by Ameriacan Girl’s perceptions than the real problems. I just don’t agree to the comments that it is happening in country A or B or C so it can happen in Kuwait. Happening in a country is not a justification for happening the same in Kuwait.

Let us agree to the fact the problem exists here and the only disagreement is at what level the cancer is spread in the body. However, there is cancer and needs cure.

I know that there are many Kuwaiti’s sarcastic about why expatriates are here. There are many reasons (1) Money, yes this country is really rich (I don’t know if Kuwaitis are) (2)It gives better living conditions in Kuwait (3) most professionals are here because there is tax free money. Most of it all, this country needs expats.

Take a minute to think, why the companies here are failed to meet the Kuwaitization ratio’s? Is it that there are not enough Kuwaitis or are they lazy or do they have better jobs? Or is it that all the business’s are run by expats?

Going back to the original reason of this thread; whoever reads this thread should make an attempt to cure the cancer. I recently asked a (Kuwaiti) friend of mine about his life as he recently got married. He mentioned that he and his wife is not staying in his parents house and moved into an apartment like the new generation (of course who can afford) across the world. He mentioned that he made it clear to his wife that he will not keep a maid / ghadama at house and his wife should attend the household work. I just asked him why, is it because the money? He put it like this, you have a ghadama at home, you don’t have privacy, then you start making all the work by her, then you become more lazy, will have tendency to abuse her if she is not doing things etc… He mentioned in passing that many Kuwaiti’s abuse their maids.

I understand that this problem exists everywhere and Kuwait is not the only country.

How many of the Kuwaiti’s are ready to try working as a maid for a month? how do you think it will be? atleast just think in the shoes of your domestic worker. Are you seeing a happy face? If yes, you are a kind Kuwaiti and kind person. Are you seeing a sad or stressful face? then re-assess what you are doing and think of how you can improve.

One more comment, I know good Kuwaitis many of them I have mentioned earlier and I know many domestic workers as well. I am from India, as the name indicates. Many of these domestic workers are offered dream come true offers and they don’t think as many suggested here much about this. Most of the time, these offers comes thru the people they know who are knowingly or unknowingly part of the plot. To get the visa and the job, they will have to spent 100 thousands of rupees or somewhere around 1000 KD to be spent. With the kind of money they get here, it will take more than 2-3 years for them to get rid of the debt they have made to come here, which often would have obtained by pledging their family houses or lands. Many of them may not come if the money is mere 50-60 KD.

Another note is that it is not only Kuwaitis to be pointed all nationals in Kuwait have their way of contribution in abusing the domestic workers. Someone I know, a Lebanese living here all his life, (no offense to Lebanese) used to keep a philipino house maid. He was very afraid of she running away and thus he keeps her locked inside the flat when he and his wife goes for work, she is not allowed to make phone calls and not allowed to have a mobile phone, had to travel with his family to Lebanon so that she will not leave them. He used to boast that his maid is a graduate. She will have to baby sit his child 24×7 and finally what happened was she just ran away when she got the opportunity.

I also know an Indian house maid who happened to avoid Live in maid jobs (she works only for Indian families) because she says it is difficult to get rest especially during weekends and when there are guests in the house.

It is not International Human rights watch or local human rights watch who can influence you, but you yourself. Don’t see your goodness or badness from your own eyes, but try to take an observer approach so that you will see it better and unbiased.

This comment is not to hurt anyones feelings or change cultures, but just to add my 2 cents on the real problem of domestic workers in the middle east and specifically in Kuwait.

Confucius once said “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others”

Ever heard of Karma?

it would be unfair to say that all employers abuse their domestic workers, not all fingers are same.
The best solution is to stop domestic workers visa and the countries who are allowing domestic workers to go from their land are also part of the abuse.
The solution is to stop domestic workers visa (20 visa) and all problems will be solved.
Some countries don’t allow domestic workers from their countries like US, Britain, etc,etc…..

American Girl is a shallow ignoramus. I hope she finds herself in a position where she is abused mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Syed said: “Some countries don’t allow domestic workers from their countries like US, Britain, etc,etc…..”

Correction: Check this term:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pair

Then Google (au-pair) then go to any link you like. You will see more domestic or international helpers in the name of au-pair which we have many of them here in US and mostly students want to make money while they are studding abroad which was nice idea THEN, it became either a business or a cover up for sex trafficking and again the same happens either these youngster fall trapped as they need nannies themselves turn into bad employee or the employer had something in mind asking for special age to take care of his/her children…Imagine the rest.

In between there are always the good and the bad or the ugly and the ugliest. Which will bring me into the American Girl, whom I said in one of my comment that she might be a nice lady and to stop attacking her; who are we to judge any one here as we are drifting from the issue. I said it bluntly that I didn’t like her remarks in this subject even she had some good points if we want to look into DVD’s of each country, we all be amazed to see the USA considering itself the world leader, I call that we are the third world comparing to the resources and political views we have…

SO, may be we should be more civil towards the American Girl…
American Girl, I’m sorry if you took my wording harsh and when I visited your blog to find out what the name means. SO, I rest my case at least as you will notice I can’t bear hurting any one.

I liked what: “Indian” said in his comments, it was the best as he elaborated eloquently.

I like to share one experience and it had nothing with maids in houses. I was in a British school accountant office in the 1980+ in Kuwait. The accountant was Indian with master degree, but the British principle was treating him terribly rude and even accused him of losing or stealing a check of a British student. I was furious of his behavior, then I said to the principle: MR———- Excuse me you better leave the room,,, this is not the old British colony of India. Then I requested the name of the student to follow up to find where is that check IF he really paid- was not!?

What my purpose of this incident. Not to mention more stories in Oman in SQU which is the highest educational entity, you should see how the Canadian abuse workers. SO, in conclusion we the people are arrogant, the rich, the well to do or worst highly educated with piece of certificate/s think that we are above the human being law. WE need to seek a lot of wisdom and what bother me about the Arab world who pretend or hide behind Islam which shameful to hear these stories of abuse.

IF; every one commented here DO something about it than just fighting each others. WE are not the issue; your mission after this IS the issue.

@Sayed,

British and American people are free to go abroad and do what they like (legally) abroad. It’s just that there isn’t much demand to work for 70KD a month as a domestic worker for a Kuwaiti family. Surprising I know, but there you go.

Syed: I think you didn’t go to the link that I added which gives this:

“An au pair (plural: au pairs) is a domestic assistant working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family’s responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use. They are often foreign-nationals[citation needed] of the country in which they are working.” Cited from Wikipedia which you can correct their information if you feel they have it wrong.

SO, what is the difference, just because that person comes under au-pair or teacher assistant,, the subject we are taking about the HUMAN RIGHTS….IF I have to go into more explaining — Well because AMERICAN themselves or British don’t care for the Arab world SO, they come in different title to satisfy their VISA, and if you go through the words I said to Google,,, then you will find how many Saudi, Kuwaiti and mostly foreigners who work in the Gulf wanting cheaper labor too or getting to be smart to imitate the locals.

Honestly, you hardly find Westernized hiring full time domestic helpers except in the GULF because of the fat check they get and IF you get to find some of those domestic westernized helpers, and wonder WHY they took the job either they are planted to be spies or they are working to come back to write a book exposing the worst of the Middle Eastern culture, you hardly meet really good people who come back with enthuse, except some activist who might be killed even without any media exposure as we don’t need to reveal too much here limiting our talk about HUMAN RIGHTS…

You need to work on your information…I’m not insulting your intelligence as much as this issue existed since Adam and Eve and will never vanish except IF God wants new prophet for us or these abused people create a UNION different than all these organization whom they are doing good job BUT not good enough to have fat checks and contracts to their own benefits,,,,etc….! ! ! !

I made once tiny study in Florida for this small State getting a book of all charity that are legal( None profit), IF such total really act upon their requirements THERE WILL BE NO CHILD HUNGRY in THIS WORLD as USA have surprisingly big numbers of hungrey children ( Shameful). This also within Human Rights not to neglect children of food and clothing before education as the mind can’t function before we feed them.

I think I said it all,,, so who ever read these comments, take the time and research all outlets to know REALITY.

By the way a hint: I visited more than American Embassy when I travel to make sure that my name is listed for some reasons,, you think they know what their people really working except as I mentioned above. SO, I speak of experiences and fact then I try to see who is the best web – link that I can trust…. NONE really as we can’t tell who is the real behind this electronic wall, except it is not that bad to go out to the world from your cubical desk and computer…

Here some links to tell another domestic abuse of family, at the end all go under HUMAN RIGHTS, just because the video started with putting yourself in her shoes,,,, then we have to put ourselves in all kind of shoes from children to adult whether male or female. May be the ad was done wrong BUT the idea was good to move us all one-way or the other.

So here read this link, may be KUWAIT or any nationality to start a web to address their stories HOPING some KUWAIT for HIGHER authority is reading this than being on CNN/ FOX/ MSNBC acting decent guys, I’m sure 2% change will be a good start.

https://www.866uswomen.org/Founders-Story.aspx

https://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/sweatshops.html

IF you read this by itself finding about Wal-Mart do you think any changed. SO, it is still abuse having these people working from their own country taking $1-2 so they don’t have to pay the locals the minimum wages of $5+…. This issue beyond all of us except as I mentioned if ANY one read this and see any abuse- Please act upon that, even if you have to loose that friend. I lost a big fat check once because I refuse to be used when I couldn’t take others abuse.

https://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Boycotts/NikeThird_facts.html

You should also read about the Saudis when they get married to Western nationality then take some of these women years and years to run away. Even loving another nationality is becoming abuse too…. SEE, this will never end. Read some blogs about the pets and HOW we cried for their shelter to be on fire? Enough said.

I`am a kuwaiti,I have one housekeeper in my house:
– Her salary is 90 K.D
-I move around the house like a bee all the time ,helping her.
– I always tell my kids to get what they want by themselves.
– At night she goes to bed early.
– When I order dinner for my kids, I make sure to order for her as well.
– She has been working in my house for many years, I never,ever shouted at her or treated her badly, even if she didn`t do her job properely.
– She recieves her salary one week before end of the month.
– Friday is her day off.
– She gets a raise every 2 years.
– Once a month she goes out for a whole day.
– Every 2 years she goes on vacation for 2 months,loaded with stuff I give her for her family.
– Any time she asks for a loan ,the answer is yes.
– I give her cash as a gift for:her daughter`s graduation/having a new grandson/..etc.
– My kide treat her very respectfully .
– She has a nice room with T.V , a fridge,washing machine.
– She is free to eat anything,anytime.
NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE KUWAITI WOMAN AS AN EMPLOYER?

Adam, good thing you weren’t going for classy — you missed that mark by a mile. And enabling whom may I ask? How many times did I state abusing a person is a crime and criminals should be punished? Is reading not your strong point? Or just simple elementary comprehension? You’ve reached an all new low in the IQ department today, Adam. You should be proud. Now, if you would like me to continue to emasculate you, email me your drivel and I’ll pretend to read it. Otherwise, invest in a reading comprehension course, and perhaps some anger management — you, little man, have serious issues.

Seham, that sounds perfectly fair (and normal) to me. You’re a fantastic employer.

@Seham S,

Forgive me if I’m not bowled over by your paying an individual 90KD a month to work exactly how many hours a week in a country that is as expensive as England or the US (and in many ways, more expensive). Personally, I don’t know anybody back in my home country who earns $300 or so for working 60+ hours a week.
Anyway, if this is supposedly one example of a good employer, what has that got to do with all the other examples when an employer abuses a worker? It simply doesn’t make any difference to what is happening to far too many other people.

@Seham the Kuwaiti woman employer.

I think that if the most you can afford to pay someone to work for you six days aweek is 90KD, then you should get busy and do your own domestic chores.

You are engaged in the indentured servitude of another human. You have no right to to do this but you justify it with nonsense because you don’t holler at her and give a TV, Fridge, and washing machine? Your frame of reference is twisted

When you pass this Earth you will reap what you have sown.

SHAME ON YOU!

David, you’re missing the point — we’re not IN the US. The domestic employee has ZERO expenses for food, clothing, shelter, etc. Every dinar she earns is sent home to provide for her family in HER home country (not America or the UK). 90KD is a LOT of money in her country, otherwise she wouldn’t be working in Kuwait.

Is it a fair salary for someone supporting a family in the west? Of course not. But where she comes from it’s MORE than fair for the hours she works.

We (westerners) can’t continue to project our lifestyles and expenses onto others and use that as a foundation for a debate. It doesn’t make us appear very bright, nor does it make for reasonable evidence to support your point.

@American Girl,

No you are missing the point. If the cost of living is the same, then the salary in both countries should reflect that. A live in worker in America (from an Asian country) would also have zero expenses. Would they get $300 or less a month and work the kind of hours people do over here? No is the simple answer to that question, and you should know that rather than pretending we are comparing the salary of an average Western worker, which we obviously are not.

The worker isn’t working in Bangladesh, they are working here. If they want to go out here, then they have to pay Kuwait prices, not Bangladeshi prices.

If you seriously think that waking up before the kids and finishing work after they go to bed, getting one day off a week, being allowed out of the house once a month by yourself (at least that’s what that list made it sound like), being allowed to return home once every 2 years and presumably not getting any extended holidays other than that, and receiving 90KD for the privilege constitutes a decent salary, then I’d suggest you aren’t thinking through the issue very deeply if at all.

for example if you are buying a gift (let’s take perfume for example) for somebody, what will you choose? a cheap one or the one you use or something better???

David, seriously, SHE HAS NO COST OF LIVING. What are you not getting?! A domestic employee in Kuwait has ZERO expenses. Why on earth do you continue to compare the cost of living rate in Kuwait and America when the woman’s salary is being sent back to HER country — where the cost of living is MUCH MUCH MUCH less.

However, one solution would be for her to STAY in her country, earn the wages paid in HER country, and attempt to suppport her family on THAT. Mind you — THOSE wages would be less than HALF what she makes in Kuwait. Is this getting through?

Furthermore, the reason this wouldn’t happen in America has nothing to do with our values, morals, and being so great — it’s because WE DO have labor laws in place to protect ALL employees. Even the illegal ones. Granted America is far more established and advanced than Kuwait. Think back to America circa 1920 — that’s similar to Kuwait today. No labor laws, no children’s rights, few women’s rights, no minimum wage, etc. Yes, America has advanced and learned from past mistakes, but does it mean the rest of the world should jump on board today? Maybe the way we’re doing it works well for us, but let’s not shove it down the throats of everyone else.

Finally, and slightly off topic — the ‘American way’ has become to out souce a vast majority of our work to countries like India, Sri Lanka, etc. How much do you think WE pay them? And they work for AMERICANS! Additionally, this brilliant idea of out sourcing has caused unemployment to rise above 8% and OUR hard working, willing citizens are homeless! Why do we continue to out source? Because we can pay an Indian (no offense to anyone) less than $2 an hour (approximately 600 fils) per hour. And we don’t provide their housing, food, transportation, vacations, clothing, etc. Perhaps we should look at the ABUSE we inflict on these people by taking advantage of them and stop pointing fingers at the Kuwaitis.

How did I get wrapped up in your nonsensical drivel yet again?!

@American Girl,

Give me strength. Try reading what I posted and think about it. It’s like banging my head against a wall. They live here. Why not attempt comparing like with like?? What would an Asian worker get paid in the US for doing exactly the same amount of work and getting the same ‘benefits’ as outlined earlier? It’s not rocket science, but the logic seems to completely by pass you, or you just choose to ignore the question as you know the answer.

And what does her likely pay at home have to do with what she should get here?? People in this country are taking advantage of the ridiculous wages they can get away with paying individuals who are often desperate and so will take any form of work they can get or have simply been misled about what they will get paid here. How many middle class people do you know in the West who can afford 1/2/3 domestic workers or even want to employ them? Why is that and what does it say to you? Does none of that actually resonate with you?
And yes, I know the West has labour laws that actually attempt to protect workers – and certainly protect them from the kind of work and pay conditions prevalent here. That’s actually something to admire and aspire to you know, but for some utterly inexplicable reason, you seem to think that it’s quite alright for that not to be the case here. Hey, Kuwait’s behind the times, so it’s OK – despite it of course being a rich country in a modern world populated by people who should know better. We are living in the 21st Century. The work and pay conditions many of these workers face is simply exploitation, and that is being kind.

And your final attempt at an explanation of what globalisation has entailed is just utterly simplistic and meaningless in the context of what is being discussed here. Not to mention the fact that globalisation has actually been extremely beneficial to many in countries like India and China – and is actually something that does have two sides to the story as you so seem to love to talk about.

So why not stop trying to spread the blame by focusing on other countries as if that impacts upon the situation here. It’s just a stupid argument. We are all well aware there are problems in other countries, but I’m still at a total loss why that should prevent people from pointing out the issues here. Really, I find your views quite shocking.

And please, as I’ve said all along, I’m trying to point out the glaringly obvious to you, but you seem utterly immune to common sense and any awareness of what is actually going on, and instead, just continue to spout the mixed up and illogical reasoning that you’ve repeated post after post. You are an American and a woman? Those are two facts I’m finding quite hard to believe.

You find it difficult to believe I’m an American female why? Because I don’t shove my belief system down the throat of every other country while draped in red, white, and blue? And because I have an opinion and voice it?

What I struggle with is the fact you continue to compare Kuwait’s cost of living with less fortunate countries these domestic workers come from. You seem to think these domestic employees are actually spending their salary IN Kuwait. Or at least you like to use that as basis for your debate. This is where your logic is flawed, making the rest of your comments moot. Their salary is based on the cost of living in their home country — are you aware American companies in Kuwait do the same? They bid government contracts at VERY low rates (to win), and then hire Indians and pay them VERY low wages based on the economy in India. Do you know why? Because their housing, food, work uniforms, and transportation are provided for them. Their expenditures in Kuwait are minimal — if any. Exactly like a domestic employee.

Now, let me assure you of one thing… if there was no minimum wage and labor law in America, and we could hire maids at the rates being paid in Kuwait, we would ALL have a few — even you. Don’t even try to deny it. However, we’re prevented from doing so based on law. Even an illegal Mexican in the USA has the LEGAL RIGHT to minimum wage simply becuase he’s managed to get across the border and our forefathers decided everyone within the confines of our country (legal, not, citizen, or not) would be treated exactly the same.

What is glaringly obvious here is that you want to force your western views and lifestyle on a country you don’t even have the right to vote in. When instead, you might want to take a look at your own backyard first.

Kuwait being ‘behind the times’ isn’t an excuse more than just an attempt at drawing a mental picture for you. It really is a struggle — I have to resort to elementary style examples for you.

It’s all very simple:

If a false report is filed against a sponsor that employee should be banned from working abroad again… ever.

If an employer is found guilty of mistreating or abusing an employee they should be banned from ever being allowed to sponsor a domestic worker again… ever.

See? I believe BOTH sides should be punished. You, on the other hand, just want to spew nonsense and blame every citizen of Kuwait of behavior you assume is taking place in every home.

Did you by any chance meet your significant other at the Sultan Center Al-Kut? No offense.

@American Girl,

My logic is not flawed, yours is. The pay they receive is simple exploitation.
And disliking the exploitation of my fellow human beings is not actually a Western construct, it’s a basic moral underpinning.

And do you know why American companies do it? because they are taking advantage of the system just like many others. That they do it isn’t some kind of evidence of its acceptability, it is an indication of the deep rooted nature of the exploitation that goes on. People are profiting on the backs of these workers. It’s as simple as that.

And no, I wouldn’t have a maid. I’m here, aren’t I, and I don’t have a maid. I simply don’t believe in it.

And no, you don’t need to ‘resort to elementary style examples’ for me. I’ve perfectly understood your poorly reasoned arguments throughout this thread.

Obviously you have got your head firmly buried in the Kuwaiti sand. I hope that the excuses you’ve created in your mind ease your conscience when you hand over your 70KD or whatever it is to your domestic helper at the end of this month.

@American Girl,

Oh, and I just noticed your final comment,’Did you by any chance meet your significant other at the Sultan Center Al-Kut? No offense.’ The answer is no, but I admire the political correctness of your comment, I don’t think. It kind of ‘nicely’ sums up your general unthinking attitude.

@ David,
Very well said.

@ American Psycho,
You are very eloquent in stating your point, sadly its utter garbage. You remind me of the Rev. Louis Farrakhan.

Oh David, I think you kinda like me.

Now seriously, stop diverting from the topic at hand while spouting your holier than thou rubbish.

I speak of apples while you insist they’re oranges. A conversation/debate or whatever you want to refer to it as, is a true struggle with you.

You’re clearly emotionally invested in this topic — hence my question regarding your significant other. I was being presumtuous and figured your mind had been filled with cute little sob stories of abuse and neglect while she’s whispering, “I’m a virgin” in your ear. Perhaps you don’t have a maid because she’s worked her way out of the kitchen and into your bedroom. Hiring her sister would be slightly unethical, no? Some things are so very transparent.

You choose to stand up on the soapbox pretending to protect the world, all while not having a clue what you’re even discussing. Related to the former President Bush by any chance? He behaved the same way — many times.

Khalas.

@American Psycho,

WOW, that’s some twisted shit. You need therapy, and I’m not just saying that figuratively!

I don’t know why I’m lowering myself to reply to you American girl, but hey, your comments are there for everyone to see. Just pathetic, though not particularly surprising given the level of insight you’ve shown so far.

Adam, was there a point you were attemtping to make — or do you just take pride in verbal abuse of women?

Finally, a statement wouldn’t be implied ‘figuratively’, check your grammar, little man… literally… little man.

@American Girl,

You spend a lot of time complaining about other people abusing you, but you seem to have an uncanny knack for completely ignoring your own efforts.