Amnesty International’s recent report details the abuse of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia and accuses the Kenyan government of complicity, according to The Standard. Enduring imprisonment, racism, and sometimes rape, workers interviewed for the report spoke of conditions so horrific they add up to “forced labor and human trafficking.”

Once you are inside, you never go out
Domestic workers play an essential role in supporting working families in Saudi Arabia, a role integral to the country’s ongoing economic growth. Indeed, nearly 4 million domestic workers from Africa and Asia are currently living there, helping care for the children and homes of working families.

But based on interviews with 72 Kenyan women in Saudi Arabia, the working conditions they face are inhumane. They often include sexual, verbal, and physical abuse on top of deprivation of food and freedom.

The worker stated:

“My employer called me ‘shaghala’ [servant] and declared, ‘I bought you. You belong to me, and you do what I say’.”

The Amnesty report describes one of the root causes as “systemic racism” in the attitudes of Saudis toward Kenyans. Those interviewed said they were often called “animal” and “monkey” by members of the household.

Another worker said:

“I have no freedom, because once you are inside you never go out. You don’t go out and do not see out. This made me feel like it’s a prison.”

According to the labor market statistics cited in the report, currently there are approximately 150,000 domestic workers from Kenya living in Saudi Arabia. Significantly, the kafala system hires the majority of these workers. This system is used across the Middle East and has been widely criticized for allowing structural racism and engendering racial hierarchies.

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