Jordan: Foreign workers suffer abuse, says AI

Tens of thousands of domestic workers in Jordan live in appalling conditions and are forced to work up to 19 hours a day for nothing, according to human rights group Amnesty International. In a new report, Amnesty is calling on the Jordanian Government to ensure that the current review of employment regulations guarantees workers' rights and conditions and justice for those who suffer abuse.

"Abuse of women migrant domestic workers is widespread in Jordan, particularly economic exploitation," the report says.

"Many are paid only part of their meagre wages or not paid at all, sometimes for years. One woman told Amnesty that she was owed nearly four years' pay."

Jordan has some 40,000 registered women migrant domestic workers. Many come from countries in South East Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

According to recent Amnesty International research, the majority of these women are abused and exploited with little or no protection from the authorities.

Some also suffer from sexual abuse, but Amnesty says this is often hard to prove because there are usually no witnesses and minimal evidence. Those who do report an alleged crime may face jail themselves because they have 'incorrect working papers' or the employer files a counter claim.In July 2008 the Jordanian Parliament amended the Labour Law.

Amnesty said one amendment stipulated that a separate regulation would be issued to define the terms of employment for migrant workers, including their working hours and rest periods. This regulation is currently being prepared by the government.

"We call on the Jordanian authorities to seize this golden opportunity to make the exploitative conditions currently faced by migrant domestic workers a thing of the past," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's deputy programme director for the Middle East and North Africa.

"Their actions should be bold enough to match the scale of the abuses." AKI