Facing inhuman treatment, women workers are returning from Saudi Arabia empty handed. Many have recounted tales of horrific sexual abuse at camps in the oil rich kingdom.
It’s believed that in different cities of Saudi Arabia, there are several hundred camps and many Bangladeshis work as recruiting middlemen for Saudi agencies.
Reportedly, if an employer complains about a maid then the accused is taken to an agency office where she is tortured.
Returnees allege abuse through electric shocks and scalding with heated rods.
A woman called Ayesha, who came back after facing barbaric treatment, talks of another Bangladeshi called, Salma, who runs such an office in Riyadh where other women are mistreated.
Ayesha says: “at Salma’s office, women are subjected to electric shock, and beaten with sticks.”
It’s difficult for women workers to come back unless their agreement expires. Those who flee their employers have their visas digitally locked and, therefore, are apprehended at immigration and sent to jail or deportation centres.
To safeguard women workers from harassment, safe homes have been established and are operated under the Bangladesh mission. There are two such homes in Jeddah, one in Saudi Arabia and two in Oman and Lebanon.
Too many women are coming to the safe houses, says sources.
Nasima, a maid who worked in a family of 11 members, said she could not take any rest.
They used to beat me if I took some time off, she informed and added: “I fled but was caught by people working for the middlemen.”
I was taken to a camp, beaten and managed to return after I arranged money from my family in Bangladesh, says the emotionally scarred woman.
BRAC migration programme head, Shariful Hassan, says: “we do not know the exact number of such labour camps; reportedly, Saudi employers have links to the camps.”
Many women come back after facing ill treatment at these centres, he added.
According to expatriate welfare desk, around 300 women workers came back in the month of June.
Others have come back through unofficial channels, informed the desk.