When you applied for work in Saudi Arabia, didn’t you think you would work for a few years, make a pile, marry off your daughter or sister, build a home, and retire to the good life?
When you paid the huge commission to the recruitment agent and a large fee for your visa, did anybody tell you the bad news?
That your contract may be ‘renegotiated’ once you land in Saudi Arabia. You may not be paid your salary for months. You may have to sleep in chains. You may be falsely charged, perfunctorily tried and jailed. You may be threatened with sacking or your salary may be withheld if you spurn your employer’s ‘suggestion’ to convert to Islam.
If you are a maid, you might be raped. If you are a male you may be thrashed by your boss for even a minor bungle.
The dangers foreign workers face in Saudi Arabia are manifold. Yet the foreign embassies behave like ostriches, leaving the vulnerable employees to Saudi mercy. Meanwhile, thousands continue to queue up with job agents in New Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi, Dhaka, Colombo, Manila and other cities... lured by the petrodollars that they believe will fulfil their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.
