عاشق الهدوء
04-06-2007, 10:38 AM
Decision to Recruit Egyptian Maids Triggers Controversy
Marwa Al-Hefnawy, Arab News
JEDDAH, 2 June 2007 — An agreement between Saudi Arabia and Egypt to recruit 120,000 Egyptian women to work as maids in the Kingdom has caused controversy among Egyptian expatriates.
Egyptians living in the Kingdom described news of the agreement as a “scandal” and “humiliating” to Egypt’s image in the Middle East. The agreement was signed by Saad Al-Baddah, chairman of the Saudi National Committee for Recruitment and Manpower, and Aisha Abdul Hady, Egyptian minister of manpower and immigration.
“It isn’t proper for Egypt to send its women to work as maids at other people’s homes; this is especially the case since Egypt has sent its scientists and qualified professionals all over the world and they have become extremely successful,” said Hazem Hassan, an Egyptian doctor.
Hassan believes the agreement will create problems between Egyptians and Saudis. “We all know what maids are exposed to in the Kingdom. We’ve heard a lot about maids being abused by their employers and the fact that they experience sexual harassment. We cannot accept that happening to Egyptian women. I believe this will create a lot of problems between Egyptians and Saudis, and will weaken relations between them.”
Essam Jaber, another Egyptian expatriate, said, “This accord will only increase problems experienced by Egyptian workers in the Kingdom.”
Lamia El-Sayed, a teacher at a private school, said the decision was a “disgrace” and that it has distressed a lot of Egyptians. “People look down on such jobs and refuse to work as maids. Where is the dignity for Egyptians?” she said.
El-Sayed said Egypt itself faces a major shortage of maids. “Egyptian maids would be better off employed in their home country rather than going abroad, especially since the salary for maids in Egypt is almost similar to that in the Kingdom,” she said.
Egyptian housewife Hanan Gomaa said she has been living in the Kingdom for 30 years. “I’ve never seen an Egyptian maid in Saudi Arabia, although I have heard that there are a few. Isn’t it terrible what we hear about Indonesian and Filipino maids and how they are sexually and physically abused?” she said. “The Egyptian minister announced that the accord would maintain the dignity of workers abroad, but how will she protect Egyptian women workers?”
Yasmine Abu Al-Saud, another Egyptian housewife, said she does not see any benefit in the agreement. “There was a decision taken before, preventing Egyptian women from working abroad as maids. Of course, this was a step forward and was a very wise decision. So what happened or changed? Why has there been a reversal? Are we moving forward or backward?”
Meanwhile, the local Egyptian press called the accord “a scandal” and “part of a plan to humiliate Egypt.” Mostafa Bakry, editor in chief of Al-Esbou’ newspaper, who is also a member of the Parliament, has applied to question the minister over the agreement
Marwa Al-Hefnawy, Arab News
JEDDAH, 2 June 2007 — An agreement between Saudi Arabia and Egypt to recruit 120,000 Egyptian women to work as maids in the Kingdom has caused controversy among Egyptian expatriates.
Egyptians living in the Kingdom described news of the agreement as a “scandal” and “humiliating” to Egypt’s image in the Middle East. The agreement was signed by Saad Al-Baddah, chairman of the Saudi National Committee for Recruitment and Manpower, and Aisha Abdul Hady, Egyptian minister of manpower and immigration.
“It isn’t proper for Egypt to send its women to work as maids at other people’s homes; this is especially the case since Egypt has sent its scientists and qualified professionals all over the world and they have become extremely successful,” said Hazem Hassan, an Egyptian doctor.
Hassan believes the agreement will create problems between Egyptians and Saudis. “We all know what maids are exposed to in the Kingdom. We’ve heard a lot about maids being abused by their employers and the fact that they experience sexual harassment. We cannot accept that happening to Egyptian women. I believe this will create a lot of problems between Egyptians and Saudis, and will weaken relations between them.”
Essam Jaber, another Egyptian expatriate, said, “This accord will only increase problems experienced by Egyptian workers in the Kingdom.”
Lamia El-Sayed, a teacher at a private school, said the decision was a “disgrace” and that it has distressed a lot of Egyptians. “People look down on such jobs and refuse to work as maids. Where is the dignity for Egyptians?” she said.
El-Sayed said Egypt itself faces a major shortage of maids. “Egyptian maids would be better off employed in their home country rather than going abroad, especially since the salary for maids in Egypt is almost similar to that in the Kingdom,” she said.
Egyptian housewife Hanan Gomaa said she has been living in the Kingdom for 30 years. “I’ve never seen an Egyptian maid in Saudi Arabia, although I have heard that there are a few. Isn’t it terrible what we hear about Indonesian and Filipino maids and how they are sexually and physically abused?” she said. “The Egyptian minister announced that the accord would maintain the dignity of workers abroad, but how will she protect Egyptian women workers?”
Yasmine Abu Al-Saud, another Egyptian housewife, said she does not see any benefit in the agreement. “There was a decision taken before, preventing Egyptian women from working abroad as maids. Of course, this was a step forward and was a very wise decision. So what happened or changed? Why has there been a reversal? Are we moving forward or backward?”
Meanwhile, the local Egyptian press called the accord “a scandal” and “part of a plan to humiliate Egypt.” Mostafa Bakry, editor in chief of Al-Esbou’ newspaper, who is also a member of the Parliament, has applied to question the minister over the agreement