BCHR Reiterates Demand for Domestic Workers to be Included in Labour Law
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
8 March 2007
Ref: 07030800
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2007 the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the government and civil society to reaffirm the rights of all women in Bahrain, and in particular, would like to highlight the plight of the thousands of migrant domestic workers who are living among us.
In an address to the United Nations on Tuesday, Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women, asserted that: “Women (in Bahrain) today enjoy comprehensive rights, have equal rights and responsibilities with men and can fully participate in public life and political action.” (Gulf Daily News, March 7)
The BCHR disputes this portrayal by Her Highness Shaikh Sabeeka, finding instead that Bahrain continues to be male-dominated in almost all sections of society and that the situation for women is far from acceptable.
In addition, very few genuine steps are being taken — by either the government or civil society — to rectify the one-sided system.
BCHR Reiterates Demand for Domestic Workers to be Included in Labour Law
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
8 March 2007
Ref: 07030800
On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2007 the Bahrain Center for Human Rights calls on the government and civil society to reaffirm the rights of all women in Bahrain, and in particular, would like to highlight the plight of the thousands of migrant domestic workers who are living among us.
In an address to the United Nations on Tuesday, Her Highness Shaikha Sabeeka Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty King Hamad and chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Women, asserted that: “Women (in Bahrain) today enjoy comprehensive rights, have equal rights and responsibilities with men and can fully participate in public life and political action.” (Gulf Daily News, March 7)
The BCHR disputes this portrayal by Her Highness Shaikh Sabeeka, finding instead that Bahrain continues to be male-dominated in almost all sections of society and that the situation for women is far from acceptable.
In addition, very few genuine steps are being taken — by either the government or civil society — to rectify the one-sided system.
Some of the pressing problems facing women in Bahrain are that:
- women continue to be discriminated against in the workplace and denied senior posts in both the private and public sectors
- family law in Bahrain is uncodified and governed by all-male religious Sharia courts — influential sections of the religious establishment oppose a codified family law, while the government now seems uninterested in pursuing the matter (see Women’s Petition Committee statement, 1 Nov 2006);
- the Sharia courts and Public Prosecution have resorted to threatening activists who dare to criticize its anti-women policies (see BCHR Ref: 05060301 and Ref: 07011401);
- children and spouses of Bahraini women married to non-Bahraini men are not entitled to citizenship;
- sexual harassment and domestic abuse against women is commonplace, with very little institutional support for victims — spousal rape is not considered a crime according to Bahraini law.
The BCHR feels, however, that special attention must be given to the plight of female migrant domestic workers, as they have been by and large ignored and excluded from the discourse on women’s rights in Bahrain.
Female migrant workers are also women
Across the world, women and children are the most vulnerable section of society to the effects of economic, political and social ills. For migrant women, the conditions are even worse.
In Bahrain, migrant workers employed as domestic helpers are not
protected by the country’s labour law.
Upon arriving to the country they are subjected to mandatory health testing related to sexual and reproductive health without consent or counselling.
Problems faced by these women include long (or undefined) working hours, low salaries and late payment of salaries, poor and repressive living conditions and psychological, physical and sexual abuse.
Extreme local cases have seen women being trafficked into prostitution.
However, few are able or willing to seek legal redress – many because they are unaware of their rights, but also because they do not have access to the institutions where they could seek help.
“In addition, because domestic helpers are required by law to live with their sponsor (employer), leaving the home to file a court case has lead to the jailing of abuse victims in the past,” BCHR vice-president Nabeel Rajab said.
“In an act of true solidarity between women, we would like to see the plight of migrant women being highlighted in Bahrain on this International Women’s Day,” he added.
“The BCHR calls on all concerned parties to work to ensure the protectection of these women’s rights, and to give them the respect they deserve.”
Labour Law must cover domestic workers
The BCHR reiterates demands made earlier regarding migrant domestic workers (see BCHR Ref: 07010200):
To the Government:
- Take immediate steps to amend the Labour Law such that domestic workers are included under its scope.
- Create legislation and practical steps to guarantee at least one day off from work each work for all domestic helpers.
To worker unions and women’s groups:
- Encourage female migrant workers to participate in your organization’s activities.
- Make domestic worker’s rights issues a permanent part of your organization’s agenda.