The article reports on the deaths of 274 Kenyan workers in Saudi Arabia over five years, predominantly women. It cites systemic abuses faced by migrant domestic workers from Uganda and Kenya, including reports of assault and poor living conditions. Despite autopsy findings revealing trauma, many deaths are classified as natural causes. The complicity of influential figures in staffing agencies exacerbates the ongoing issues, with both countries failing to secure protective agreements for their workers.
A recent report by the New York Times indicates that at least 274 Kenyan workers, predominantly women, have died in Saudi Arabia over a span of five years while engaged in non-hazardous employment. This alarming statistic reflects broader issues, as Uganda also experiences substantial worker fatalities in the Gulf kingdom, though official mortality figures remain undisclosed by its government.
Each year, numerous women from Uganda and Kenya migrate to Saudi Arabia for domestic roles, such as housekeepers and nannies. Reports from returning workers often disclose harrowing experiences of unpaid wages, detention, physical abuse, starvation, and sexual assault, with some tragically returning deceased.
Autopsies conducted on the deceased individuals frequently reveal signs of trauma, including burns and electrocution injuries. However, Saudi authorities consistently classify these deaths as resulting from “natural causes”. In a notable incident from 2022, Kenyan housekeeper Eunice Achieng reported a murder threat from her employer before being found dead in a rooftop water tank, a case similarly ruled as a natural death.
The report recounts the plight of Ugandan worker Aisha Meeme, whose autopsy revealed significant bruising and electric shock burns, yet her death was also deemed a natural occurrence by Saudi officials.
Faridah Nassanga, a Ugandan housekeeper, suffered from sexual abuse by her employer’s husband and faced forced repatriation upon pregnancy. She now seeks compensation for the violations she endured. The New York Times investigation covered interviews with over 90 workers and the families of those who died, highlighting systemic neglect toward these abuses.
The findings disclose that influential individuals from Kenya, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia have financial stakes in staffing companies, perpetuating a culture of impunity regarding the abuses faced by migrant workers. Notably, members of the Saudi royal family are implicated through their investments in recruitment agencies, with senior officials in major staffing firms connected to various high-ranking positions.
While some nations have negotiated protective agreements for their migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, including wage enforcement protocols, Kenya and Uganda have not established formal agreements. A spokesperson for Kenya’s presidency announced efforts to enhance protections for workers and to address unlicensed recruiting agencies. A representative from the Saudi labour ministry articulated, “Any form of exploitation or abuse of domestic workers is entirely unacceptable, and allegations of such behaviour are thoroughly investigated.”
The tragic deaths of Kenyan and Ugandan workers in Saudi Arabia highlight severe systemic issues regarding migrant worker treatment, including neglectful oversight by both their home countries and Saudi authorities. The persistence of exploitation underscores the need for reforms in recruitment practices and stronger protective measures for domestic workers. While efforts are being initiated in Kenya to safeguard workers, the lack of protective agreements coupled with the ongoing abuse raises serious concerns for the welfare of migrant workers in the region.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
