Maids say Saudi men more tolerant than women

JEDDAH: Maids in the Kingdom say that Saudi men are more tolerant and patient than women citizens in terms of their household duties, according to a survey conducted by an online publication.
Most of the 12 maids surveyed said that their male employers were more forgiving when they made mistakes, according to the report published on Thursday.
Rahma, an Indonesian maid, said her woman employer often gets irritated and angry with her but calms down when her husband intervenes and asks her to be patient.
Four of the maids who responded to the survey said that they are paid their salaries late, but said the men of the house treat them well, which was some form of compensation.
Ameena, a Sri Lankan maid, said her employer has never paid her late and often gives her more money, particularly during Ramadan and Eid.
When the maids were asked about racism or being treated as an inferior, 10 respondents said their men employers did not treat them in this manner. However, an Ethiopian maid said that she felt discriminated against, which she believes is due to her dark skin.
In contrast, 10 of the maids surveyed said that the wives gave them too much work, while four said they were treated badly and often punished if they were not able to handle the workload. All of the maids said there was strict monitoring of cellphone use and leaving the house.
Adel Befleh, a social worker, said it was natural for men and women Saudis to treat their maids differently. This is because Saudi women are in contact with their maids much longer than the men of the house.
He said the maids had articulated part of the “complex” relationship between Saudi women and maids in their houses. “There are terrifying stories that maids tell about their employers, and of crimes committed by maids against their employers.”
“Because of this complex relationship, one simply cannot know who is the oppressor and the oppressed,” he said. There were cultural differences at play in the relationship between employer and employee, he said.
He said domestic workers come from underdeveloped societies where oppression and poverty is prevalent. When maids arrive in the Kingdom they experience culture shock, resulting in feelings of oppression, with a small minority attacking their employers. All parties should obey the country’s labor laws, he said.
The Ministry of Labor last month issued a report stating that there were over 1.9 million men and women workers in the country at the end of 2015. Women made up 62.4 percent, about 1.2 million, and men 726,231.
The term “domestic worker” in the Kingdom includes professions under the sponsorship of individuals, such as home nurses, house guards, private drivers, cooks, gardeners and maids.