In the last five years, 274 Kenyan workers, mainly women, died in Saudi Arabia under dubious circumstances, leading to reports of systemic abuse and negligence. Migrant workers often face severe exploitation, including unpaid wages, physical harm, and sexual abuse, with authorities categorizing many deaths as natural causes. Investigations reveal complicity from influential figures in staffing firms, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures for vulnerable workers.
Over the past five years, at least 274 Kenyan workers, primarily women, have died in Saudi Arabia, while working in non-hazardous roles, according to a report by the New York Times. Uganda has reported a significant number of similar deaths, lacking official figures. Each year, many women from both countries migrate to Saudi Arabia for domestic work but often return with distressing stories of abuse, including unpaid wages, detention, and even sexual assault, with some dead on arrival back home.
Autopsies conducted on deceased workers commonly indicate signs of trauma, such as burns and electric shocks, yet Saudi authorities frequently attribute these deaths to natural causes. For instance, in 2022, Kenyan housekeeper Eunice Achieng reported threats to her life from her employer before being discovered dead in a water tank, with authorities ruling it as a natural death.
Likewise, Ugandan worker Aisha Meeme was found with severe electrocution burns and notable bruising, yet her death was also classified as natural causes by Saudi officials. The abuses faced by migrant workers, including sexual assault and forced repatriation, are starkly illustrated by the experiences of workers like Faridah Nassanga, who faced assault and was sent back home when she became pregnant.
The New York Times investigation, which spoke with over 90 workers and families of the deceased, uncovered the complicity of influential figures in Kenya, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia, who own staffing firms and perpetuate this abuse. Notably, members of the Saudi royal family are involved with agencies placing domestic workers, while senior officials from various ministries hold positions in major staffing firms.
There is a lack of protective agreements between Kenya and Uganda with Saudi Arabia to safeguard migrant workers. While some countries have struck deals to enforce worker rights and wages, both Kenya and Uganda have not. The Kenyan government has begun taking action to protect its workers and regulate unauthorized recruiting agencies, while the Saudi labour ministry insists that abuse and exploitation of domestic workers will be thoroughly investigated and condemned.
The alarming rate of deaths among Kenyan and Ugandan women in Saudi Arabia, driven by systemic abuse and negligence, is a call to action for both governments. With influential figures ignoring worker rights, comprehensive agreements and protective measures are urgently needed. As media scrutiny intensifies, it is imperative for authorities to implement effective regulations to safeguard migrant workers and ensure their safety abroad.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
