I agree with you about the possibility of mistreatment of maids, particularly from natives living here in Saudi Arabia. To be very honest and candid with you, I completely understand this predicament. I probably wouldn't refer anyone to someone living in another country whom I don't know personally. I get that..believe me!!! Let me share some of the reasons to be hopeful..
Non natives have less chances of abusing their maids because of their own repercussions...they'd get deported and chances are they are supporting their family from their jobs. Besides penalties are severe and expat people tend to take the law more seriously in these kinds of cases. So there is very less possibility of doing anything wrong from expats. We have an extreme stake to watch over. Besides that for us personally, it's just not possible that we could harm another person. My husband is a physician and I am a housewife and we have five children. We're kid people.
I am American and just moved to Saudi Arabia and had to submit my own medical, police reports, etc. They don't allow people with criminal histories into Saudi Arabia. I mean at least they wouldn't have allowed us. My husband works in one of the best hospitals in Saudi Arabia, and we live on a good compound. I am not of this culture here or from anywhere where it's normal to not give rights to people as the rule. I mean, our prisons in the U.S. are filled up obviously so there are bad people out there. So I can't say nothing happens, but I am not one of those people who would do anything that would EVER land me in jail or in suspicion. I can't wrap my head around some of the cultural things here but it doesn't mean I don't overall enjoy my life here. Besides the immoral aspect of harming someone, logically, why would we do something that will put us in jail? Who will take care of our own children? We're not ignorant thugs out there who don't know how to behave.
For a Muslim Filipino lady she'd really have a nice life here if there was someone who desired to leave her country for work, this would be the best place in my opinion for her.
We would be her caretakers similarly, as the sponsor provides housing, food, clothing, basic personal items, and airfare back to visit her own family. Also, since we desire someone who is Muslim she would travel with us to our Holy sites. People come here illegally just to get that opportunity.
Like I said, I really do understand what is involved. It's a two way concern. I am also very afraid. I was going to sponsor a Filipino nurse the other day who was here and going back. She was going to take a reentry on my sponsorship. Well, what happened was I met her a few times and she came to my house so I could really talk to her to get know her. Well, all was perfect. She wanted to be my housemaid because she was banned as a nurse because she couldn't pass her exams and her employer confirmed this. We met her employer. So everything seemed perfect. BUT before she was leaving she asked me to add her to her facebook account. Just as I did that she told me not to mind the .....provocative pictures. So I was quiet and later on I wanted to see what she was talking about and I am speechless. I don't even want to mention what they were. So here some foreign ladies often do normal jobs to stay in this country and are great at them, but they OFTEN have a side business of you know what going on to earn extra money. And that is exactly what that woman was doing. My neighbor also had a filipino maid who was bringing men to their house while they were gone for a few days. I am not saying it's a Filipino problem, but this happened.
So here I am freaking out about having a maid. I can't imagine having a prostitute maid taking care of our home and sometimes kids. So what is a person like me to do? I have to have help at home. But how do I know who I can trust?
It's very difficult... you think someone's normal but bam there they are doing all that other stuff for money.
