Domestic workers are part of our daily life in Saudi Arabia, from cleaning homes, cooking food, and taking care of children and the elderly.
However, these workers face many challenges, whether legal, administrative or social.
In this article, we will talk about the most important challenges facing domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, and see the solutions that we can use to improve their conditions.
Legal and administrative challenges:
Laws:
The Saudi labor system regulates the work of domestic workers, with other systems and regulations such as the labor system for domestic workers, the regulations regulating the recruitment of domestic workers, and the unified employment contract for domestic workers.
These regulations define the rights and duties of the employer and the employee,Such as working conditions, working hours, vacations, pay, and termination.However, there are difficulties in implementing some provisions of these regulations,Such as the lack of clarity of some provisions, the difficulty of proving some violations, and the lack of legal awareness among some employers and workers.
Modern legislation:
In recent years, the Saudi government has taken steps to improve the working conditions of domestic workers,Such as issuing the work system for domestic workers in 2020 and launching the “SupportsTo provide electronic services for domestic workers and establish a “Domestic Workers Protection Center” to provide support and assistance to workers.
These steps aim to:
- Guaranteeing the rights of domestic workers.
- Protecting workers from any exploitation or violation.
- Improving the working environment for workers.
Remaining challenges:
There are still some challenges,Such as the failure to fully implement some provisions of the rules and regulations and the lack of legal awareness among some ownersWork and workers and the difficulty of proving some violations.
Adapting to the local society and culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Domestic workers are an important segment of Saudi society, but they face great challenges in adapting to the local culture, Saudi customs and traditions.
Domestic workers sometimes feel lonely, depressed, and anxious due to their insufficient understanding of local customs and culture, which affects their performance and quality of work.
Therefore, it is the role of employers to provide support and assistance to workers to adapt to the local society and culture.
Employers can provide support by providing the following educational and social opportunities:
Teaching the Arabic language:
The Arabic language is an important means of communication with the local community.
Therefore, employers can provide educational courses for workers to learn the Arabic language and improve their skills in it.
Introducing them to Saudi customs and traditions:
Introducing domestic workers to Saudi customs and traditions helps them better understand society and adapt to it.
Awareness and discussion sessions can be organized to explain basic Saudi customs and traditions.
Help them make friends with people from their same culture:
Forming friendships with people from the same culture helps provide a supportive and stimulating environment for domestic workers.
Social events can be organized that facilitate the communication process and encourage the formation of friendships.
Providing opportunities for entertainment and social activities:
Encouraging workers to participate in social and recreational activities contributes to reducing psychological pressure and increasing morale.
Recreational trips or cultural events can be organized to enhance interaction and communication between workers, each other, and community members.
For their part, domestic workers can also apply some steps to facilitate the process of adaptation and integration, including:
Learn Arabic:
Domestic workers can improve their understanding of local culture and facilitate communication by learning Arabic.
They can take advantage of educational courses or language learning apps to improve their language skills.
Participation in social activities:
Workers can participate in local social and cultural activities to expand their circle of acquaintances and build new relationships with community members.
Learn about Saudi customs and traditions:
Learning about Saudi customs and traditions helps facilitate the process of adaptation and integration into the local community.
Homeowners can benefit from cultural events and communicate with Saudis to better understand culture and traditions.
Ensuring a safe working environment
Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment is crucial to ensuring the safety of workers and protecting them from potential risks. Workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia face several challenges in the field of occupational safety and health, and among these challenges are:
Lack of adequate awareness of occupational safety and health:
Some employers and workers suffer from a lack of awareness of the importance of occupational safety and health, which may…View the articleIt leads to ignoring potential risks and accidents.
Lack of availability of safe tools and equipment:
Workers may face a lack of tools and equipment needed to perform their work safely, exposing them to danger and injury.
Lack of training in occupational safety and health:
Occupational safety and health training is essential to enable workers to recognize hazards and act safely.
However, many workers may not receive adequate training in this regard.
Lack of appropriate work environment:
An appropriate working environment must be available, including good lighting and proper ventilation, to ensure worker comfort and reduce the risk of injury.
In order to overcome these challenges and ensure a safe and healthy work environment, employers should take the following actions:
Providing safe tools and equipment:
Employers must provide the tools and equipment necessary to perform the work safely, such as hand tools and personal protective equipment.
Training workers on occupational safety and health:
He shouldProviding appropriate trainingFor workers to inform them of potential risks and safe ways to confront them.
Providing a suitable work environment:
Employers must review the work environment to ensure good lighting, proper ventilation, and provide appropriate conditions for worker comfort.
Providing first aid:
First aid equipment must be provided and workers trained to use it in emergency situations.
Providing periodic medical examinations:
Workers should receive periodic medical examinations to ensure their safety and identify any potential health problems.