The Ministry of Labor and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) warned that domestic labor brokers who engage in the illegal practice of renting out housemaids will be treated by the law as human traffickers.

Badar Bajaber, secretary-general of the permanent committee of human trafficking crimes at the HRC, said the Kingdom is planning to issue regulations to regulate the conditions of domestic servants. The regulations will focus on respect of the house where a domestic servant works, the right to claim her rights before concerned authorities, the right for a fair trial, opportunity to defend herself before the court and freedom to go anywhere in the Kingdom.

“This doesn’t mean that Saudi laws don’t guarantee the rights of housemaids. In fact, current Saudi legislations have provided housemaids with proper protection of their rights based on the Shariah,” said Bajaber.

“The penalty for renting out a housemaid will be a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine up to SR1 million or both, Bajaber added. “Renting housemaids to others is tantamount to human trafficking.”

Concerned authorities have been following up closely with the growing number of runaway maids and are probing how some of them end up in the hands of brokers who, for a fee, help them get employment illegally in households. Many end up getting abused at the hands of brokers.

“Any housemaid who gets engaged or involved in improper or indecent acts will face trial. Similarly, anyone who exploits housemaids by renting them out to work for others or engaging them in illicit acts will face proper penalties,” he said.

“It is very important that there should be a detailed employment contract for housemaids, a contract which states actual work hours, duties, free time, medical care, food and accommodation.

Housemaids should have freedom to contact their relatives whenever they want and may keep their passports and other important documents with them.”

The secretary general also talked about the duties of housemaids which include honesty, keeping property of their sponsors in good condition, compliance with laws and observing the rules of the Shariah and Saudi traditions.