A reader sent me a link to an article on FRANCE 24 Observers website on a domestic worker’s experience in Kuwait. The worker was held against her will by her employer and was sexually abused for several months. In the end, she got rescued and you can now read about her ordeal [Here]
Since we are on the subject of domestic workers, can I say how much the housekeepers category on the Q8 4Sale website bothers me? I really like the website but this category basically allows domestic workers to be sold off like household goods.. [Link]
Note: I hid the faces not 4Sale.
28 replies on “How a domestic worker escaped captivity in Kuwait”
Very sad to see the 4Sale site. I hope someone from the cyber department has a look at it and shuts that down immediately!
Approach also known as “sweeping dirt under the carpet”?
Why shit it down if it is legal?
If it is not posted online, it can be on albums in the maid stores…
The whole practice needs looked at, not the website.
It is 100% ILLEGAL actually. Even though yes the agencies and the entire system filled with corruption needs to be completely changed, the “maid stores” you are referring at the end of the day are registered domestic worker agencies, and have a practicing license to be the middle man between the domestic workers home agency and the employee that ends up hiring the worker in Kuwait. So although those “albums” you refer to are inhumane, technically the agency is a registered company practicing legally. The 4Sale website for example, and many others, such as instagram accounts, or even a person “selling” a domestic worker to another individual after hiring them from an agency is ILLEGAL and actually goes under human trafficking. The “fee” you pay the agency is supposed to go towards the ticket, service etc that the agency provides to bring the domestic worker to this country and so on, once you pay the agency it is illegal for you to then take that domestic worker and “sell” her to someone else for a fee.
Thank you for clarifying that if these people are selling these maids its Human trafficing.
BUT if it is a business, and has a license than it is not Human Trafficing although it is the exact same thing.
So I would wonder what would happen if they take down this section and open a similar section but ONLY businesses can post online.
That way its not Human Trafficing.
Im so glad we are so ethical in Kuwait.
unfortunate .. but such is the reality of most house helpers coming from poor countries looking for a better future .
this lady was lucky enough to find a way out … there are a lot more still trapped in their misery !
is there any way to report the 4sale page ?
i have no issues with the website .. but this category needs to be taken action against .. if the entire website has to bear the brunt of it .. so be it !
i don’t want the entire website to be down, i spend a good amount of time in the car section everyday, i just want them to shutdown this specific category.
Agreed..
is there any way to report this specific category though ?
Thank you for your concern and you are totally right .
please check the latest Memo regarding this subject on 4Sale web & apps
what memo?
Please Check Nannies category page ..memo is there
Thank you.
I don’t see a memo either. Or maybe it just doesn’t stand out.
MARK: WE NEED MORE ARTICLES ON 248AM LIKE THIS. Thank oh
A website who do have this as a category should be shut down, period. Where is their morals.
Agreed.
Excuse me, but where the F@!* is the outrage here?
Yawn, oh after the “where to get your play station toys” post and after “watching faker eat” videos comes this and it’s largely ignored…
Talk about first world self centered lack of humanity!
We’re talking about people – people being abused – right around us.
This blog was never big on social justice (lots of cars and coffee shops), mark i dont blame you because you’re part of the larger issue
Where the f%$! Is people’s outrage here?
I understand your frustration, but you also need to understand how shit works.
If i had a blog that was just about “social justice” you think anyone would check it or you think it would have high traffic? There are actually a few blogs that do exactly what you’re asking for but nobody knows about them because nobody wants to check that shit day in and day out.
Because of my “lots of cars and coffee shops” posts, my blog brings in high traffic which then allows me to create exposure for other subjects. So yeah you’re going to have a social justice post shoved between a burger review and a new coffee shop opening, but look at this one example right here. Because of this post, yesterday q84sale started changing things on their end to prevent these kinds of posts in their housekeepers category.
I understand that doesn’t solve the bigger problem, I also don’t think q84sale is doing a good job, at solving this. Supposedly you get a notice now when you enter the section on the rules of posting there but I don’t see it and people are still selling people like slaves. Here is an example from just now:
https://248am.com//images/2018/10/filipinaforsale.jpg
https://www.q84sale.com/index.php/public/kuwait/en/details/11474127/%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8
BUT, at least there is some sort of dialogue now open between us and q84sale and if by the end of the weekend the category still hasn’t been sorted out, then I’ll call them out on it again. It’s small steps but its steps.
Thank you for your concern and you are totally right .
Please check the latest Memo regarding this subject on 4Sale web & apps
Good luck.
Like in an ISIS souq for human trading.
Where is the humanity?
When all the oil runs out in 55 years or so (I used my fingers to count and everything, so you KNOW those calculations are legit), Arabs will be forced to evolve into decent human beings. Until then, expect the worst (C’mon Kuwait! We CAN sink lower than this. I’ve got faith!) and adjust accordingly.
As for the housekeeper category on the Q8 4Sale website, I suspect it has more to do with ignorance (“oh it’ll be more convenient this way”) rather than malice (“let’s strip them of their dignity”. It probably didn’t even occur to the person/people behind it, that there was anything wrong with doing that (which is just a reflection of majority’s mentality that domestic helpers are viewed as sub-humans and therefore don’t even warrant a second thought). The fact that it appears someone has reached out from their end and seems willing to rectify the situation, further cements the notion that it was purely out of ignorance rather than malice.
…Disgusted.. but unfortunately not surprised. =/
wow, its even categorised by nationality, at least make it alphabetical.
Philippines
India
Indonesia
Sri Lanka
Africa
Other Nationalities
the deliveroo post had more comments in a day than this post, even the dog killing influencer has more…
https://goo.gl/images/r1BYbY
yeah but having more comments doesn’t mean more exposure, and no comments doesn’t mean nobody has seen the post. I can show you posts that have 100+ comments and the discussion is over the most random shit. Even Shark of Kuwait posts break the 100+ barrier easily.
Modern day slavery
This is absolutely disgusting, I actually do hope the kafala system in Kuwait gets COMPLETELY abolished, the only organization that should be the “middle man” is either the embassy or consulate(s) of the worker’s nationality
Most Humanitarian country award is with Kuwait. This report is non-sense
You are a good man you are Mark to highlight issues of or pertaining to the Silence of the Lambs.
It is most demeaning and vile for women everywhere to be commoditised thus. Hope the amazing women at 153 are able to do something fantastical for them; the friendly harassment of neighbouring countries regardless.
I remember distinctly how a leading Asian daily once did a cover story on the women’s slave bazaar in this country. Although it made for disturbed reading it was the whole truth and nothing but the truth.