Saudi Arabia has implemented a new system allowing employers to renew domestic worker residency permits (iqamas) for flexible durations from 3 to 24 months via the Absher platform, replacing the previous 1-2 year options. This initiative aims to ease financial burdens and modernize government services.
Amnesty International's report, based on interviews with 19 Filipino women, details consistent patterns of abuse including excessive working hours, restricted movement, confinement, and sexual violence against domestic staff in Saudi Arabia. The findings mirror previous research on Kenyan workers, indicating widespread issues across nationalities.
A union representing foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong is urging authorities to more than double their monthly food allowance to HK$2,770, citing inflation and the current HK$40.60 daily stipend's inadequacy. They also demand a higher minimum wage and contract modifications for extreme heat.
A Filipino domestic worker, Malaya, won a £270,000 damages case against her former employer, an Emirati diplomat, in the UK. This case, alongside others, signals a legal shift limiting diplomatic immunity, especially in cases of modern slavery and exploitation.
A Filipino domestic worker, Malaya, has won a £270,000 damages case against her former employer, an Emirati diplomat, for false imprisonment and exploitation. The ruling signals a shift in diplomatic immunity laws, with UK courts now limiting its application in modern slavery cases.
A new, larger, and more comfortable shelter for distressed Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong is ready but awaiting official approval. The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers Secretary visited the facility, which replaces a smaller previous site in Kennedy Town.
A new shelter for distressed Filipino domestic workers in Tai Po, Hong Kong, is ready to open but awaits approval from local authorities. The facility is described as larger, better, and more comfortable than the previous one, with a three-year lease signed.
Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are holding a month-long fundraiser to support families impacted by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the Philippines. The campaign aims to raise HK$20,000 for urgent needs like food, water, and medicine in affected regions, particularly Mindanao.
Dubai Police urges residents to hire temporary domestic workers only through licensed agencies to prevent theft and fraud. They advise securing valuables, supervising children and the elderly, and reporting suspicious behavior, following recent recruitment scam cases.
Ten working-class women from Mumbai, previously involved in campaigns for sanitation and leadership skills, have co-directed a 70-minute documentary titled 'Mast Mahila Mandali' (Cool Ladies Club). The film showcases their lives and creativity, challenging stereotypes. The project, initiated by CORO India and facilitated by filmmaker Shilpi Gulati, empowered the women to express themselves and find joy through filmmaking.
Delhi Police investigate the murder of Debosmita Paul, an assistant professor, found dead in her east Delhi residence. Two masked individuals, a man and a woman, seen near her housing complex, are being traced. Forensic analysis of seized items and CCTV footage review are underway.
Hong Kong Observatory forecasts extremely hot weather with temperatures up to 35°C this week, issuing its third 'very hot weather' warning. The city recorded its longest May streak of 'hot nights' with minimums above 28°C.
Indonesia's parliament has passed legislation recognizing domestic workers as employees, granting them rights to health insurance, days off, and pensions, and outlawing child labor in the sector. This marks a significant advancement for over four million workers in the country and offers a model for global advocacy.
Gurgaon residents are struggling to find domestic help as many workers have returned to West Bengal for assembly elections. Instant help platforms are reporting a 30-35% reduction in available staff, leading to doubled workloads and increased service costs.
Indonesia's parliament has passed a landmark law protecting domestic workers after a 22-year struggle, granting nearly 4.2 million workers - almost 90% women - legal recognition for the first time. The Domestic Workers Protection Law entitles them to health insurance, rest days and pensions, while banning wage deductions by placement agencies and prohibiting hiring children under 18. Workers wept upon hearing of the law's passage, calling it a culmination of their fight for protection.
Indonesia's parliament has passed a landmark law granting formal worker status to the country's 4.2 million domestic workers, nearly 90% of whom are women. The legislation, first introduced in 2004, addresses decades of informal and unregulated work that exposed workers to exploitation and abuse. Domestic workers will now be entitled to vocational training, health and unemployment benefits.
ADDIS ABABA: The number of migrants who died on the “Eastern Route” from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula doubled to a record high of 922 last year, the UN migration agency said Wednesday. Tens of thousands of migrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and neighboring countries take the route across the Red Sea each year, mostly from Djibouti to Yemen, in search of work as laborers or domestic workers in wealthy Gulf countries.
