Bahrain Rights Groups Call to Protect Expat Women Workers
Suad Hamada
21 October 2008 Print E-mail
MANAMA — Three human rights groups on Sunday called for urgent steps to protect expat women workers in Bahrain from alleged abuse.
In a report to be submitted to the 42nd session of the Committee of the Convention of the Elimination for Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be held this month, the three groups pointed to the suffering of women workers and asked the panel to pressure the government to take action.
Bahrain Rights Groups Call to Protect Expat Women Workers
Suad Hamada
21 October 2008 Print E-mail
MANAMA — Three human rights groups on Sunday called for urgent steps to protect expat women workers in Bahrain from alleged abuse.
In a report to be submitted to the 42nd session of the Committee of the Convention of the Elimination for Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to be held this month, the three groups pointed to the suffering of women workers and asked the panel to pressure the government to take action.
The report was prepared by Bahrain Center for Human Rights, Caram Asian and Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights.
The report mentioned the alleged gender discrimination in public life and employment in general, especially against expat workers who are working behind closed doors.
It found that the women workers are not protected by labour laws. It called to bring these workers under labour laws.Many have to pay exorbitant recruitment and visa fees. The women workers face several problems in the workplace, including long (or undefined) working hours, low salaries and late payment of salaries and poor and repressive living conditions.
Their movement is restricted, passports withheld, and they are particularly vulnerable to alleged psychological, physical and sexual abuse. It becomes difficult for such victims of abuse to seek legal redressal.
The report indicates that the expat women workers are subjected to mandatory medical tests related to their sexual health without consent or counselling after their arrival in Bahrain.
The report criticises the illegal employment contracts as they carry conditions that are set according to the employer’s wish. In many cases, the women workers do not get cointract at all.
The report casts doubt on the adoption of Ministry of Labour’s model contract by private employers.
In addition, the employers are required to provide air tickets to their employees.
It also indicates lack of contractual clarity as women domestic workers often end up carrying out multiple forms of work such as babysitting, kitchen help and cleaning.
In addition to the family, the women work at homes of other family members, it alleges.