Abdullah Bajubair Every day we read in the local newspapers stories featuring the problems of housemaids in Saudi homes. These stories range from murder to theft, running away or romancing the husband or the children. According to a field study, conducted by associate professor of criminal sociology at Nora University Dr. Ghadah Al-Tiraifi under the title “Crimes of housemaids in Saudi society”, about 54.3 percent of the housemaids had made advances towards the husbands or plotted to marry them. This supplements the recent story of the housemaid who married her elderly employer and inherited SR20 million soon after his death. The study covered other crimes committed by housemaids included theft. These crimes combine cultural, ethical, social and economic aspects and are being repeated in an average manner. The escaping of the housemaids from their original sponsors has become a phenomenon. The runaway maids are a real threat to the society jeopardizing it with ethical crimes, theft, murder, drug trafficking, alcohol and other vices. Most of the runaway maids will be looking for better rewards. They want to make good financial gains in a short time. An immediate solution to this snowballing phenomenon is a must. The concerned organs should step in to formulate rules and regulations that would ensure the rights of both the sponsor and the worker. The rules should also stipulate harsh punishments for housemaids who escape from their sponsors, or those who employ them. We should also gradually wean away from our culture of total dependence on domestic helpers. Nurseries and kindergartens should be established in universities, schools, ministries and other government departments for nominal fees to look after the children of working mothers. If the presence of a housemaid is a dire necessity, employers should be very careful and always vigilant. The manpower recruitment offices should organize orientation programs for the new housemaids about the Kingdom's rules and regulations and also the social norms and traditions. Booklets and pamphlets explaining these rules and habits should be handed over to the housemaids upon arrival at the airport. Finally we should not forget that these people have left their homes, families and children to gain an honorable living.
