Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Beaten, Locked Up for Refusing to Be a Maid

by Ebtihal Mubarak and Ronald Concha from Arab News

A 37-year-old Filipino beautician is being treated at a hospital in Jeddah for serious injuries she suffered after falling from a building while trying to escape alleged maltreatment from her employer. Myrna Salvador was admitted to Dr. Baksh Hospital after suffering a fractured spine and hip. Despite Salvador’s condition, her employer, Malika Al-Otaibi, told her driver to take Salvador to a police station and have her deported. “Fortunately, her husband took pity and insisted that I be brought to a hospital instead,” Salvador told Arab News ... Al-Otaibi had asked Salvador to sign a new contract stating she would work as a maid despite being hired as a beautician as stated by her contract authenticated by the Saudi Embassy in Manila and the Philippine Overseas Employment Office (POEA). Al-Otaibi reportedly became angry and beat her up in front of her children and others.

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