Sad Photo: Indonesian Maids Returning Home from Saudi

This Flickr photo has a caption that - while it cannot be verified - describes a phenomenon that is all to real:

This was quite sad... We were waiting for our plane to Dubai and there was a lone Indonesian woman sat behind us. She was obviously waiting for a plane to take her back home after a stint in Saudi Arabia. I didn't notice her until airport security escorted the one on the right in and sat her next to the other one. They immediately recognized each other and started crying, wailing and hugging each other. I know I don't speak Indonesian but I could tell that the one on the right was telling the other one about what was obviously a traumatic experience. It was an intensely emotional reunion of sorts. I realized that they must have known each other before Saudi and hadn't seen each other in what was probably years.

These women are imported to Saudi as housemaids to look after Saudi families. They are treated like slaves and face daily abuse on varying levels. Many are beaten up or raped by the men in the family. They have no interaction with anyone outside the family, cannot report crimes to the police, and don't even get to see anyone in their own community.

They are essentially slave-labour. Human rights do not exist for them.

I had to take this picture.

Comments

[rad]

well....in a way it's true. I'm an Indonesian & I know that the women often found themselves blackmailed upon arrival in Jakarta.

sometimes they went home in coffin...sometimes they were raped, beaten, etc. Really when you go there you kind of playing russian roulette.

if you get good employer, you're lucky. if not, pray....

[Susan]

When you mentioned could be true, but I'm saudi & I have one maid in my house & the whole family treats her kindness. We never raped or abused anyone who came to work for us.
We never forced anyone to come work in Saudi Arabia. If the pay wasn't good and they really were abused here, why would soo many Indonesians come to saudi arabia?

[Jone]

very strange you said " I don't speak Indonesian "
Also " I could tell that the one on the right was telling the other one about what was obviously a traumatic experience "

I'm confused how you figure it out ??
my be she was telling the other one she was very sad she is leaving ??

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