Key facts
- Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia are subjected to widespread labor exploitation and sexual violence, according to Amnesty International.
- Workers are often overworked, with daily hours stretching from 14 to 21, and may not receive days off.
- Passport confiscation and restrictions on leaving the country leave many workers dependent on employers and unable to escape abuse.
- The report highlights systemic issues despite Saudi Arabia's promised labor reforms.
- Some workers were deceived about their contracts and forced to work in multiple households or face physical and sexual assault.
A new report by Amnesty International alleges that Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia are enduring widespread labor exploitation and sexual violence. The findings, based on interviews with 19 women who returned from Saudi Arabia between 2023 and 2026, reveal systemic abuses that persist despite the Gulf nation's promised labor reforms.
According to the testimonies, once inside employers' homes, the terms of employment contracts often become irrelevant, leaving workers at the mercy of their employers. Working hours frequently exceed legal limits, extending from 14 to 21 hours daily, with uncertain breaks and no guaranteed days off. Some workers reported being forced to work in multiple households, including those of relatives, seven days a week.
The report highlights that migrant workers in Saudi Arabia are excluded from national labor law and are governed by specific regulations for domestic workers, which Amnesty argues fall short of international human rights and labor standards. These regulations, combined with passport confiscation, restrictions on leaving the country without permission, and unfamiliarity with local systems, create dependency and make it difficult for workers to escape abusive situations.
One worker, identified as 'May,' recounted being deployed to 14 households, experiencing attempted molestation, physical assault, and public humiliation. Her attempts to seek help from her recruitment agency were allegedly dismissed. Another worker, 'Cleo,' described being deprived of food and facing difficulties in returning home. These experiences mirror those of Kenyan domestic workers previously documented by Amnesty International.
Amnesty International's Director of Climate, Economic and Social Justice, and Corporate Accountability programme, Marta Schaaf, stated that these are not isolated cases and represent ongoing state-enabled exploitation. She noted that severe abuses can amount to forced labor and human trafficking. The report calls for stronger safeguards and accountability for the maltreatment of migrant domestic workers.