Study Summary of Domestic Labor Problems in the Kuwaiti Society
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,
"Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge" (Al-Mujadilah Sura, Verse 11)
A poet says:
An orphan is not a one whose parents died,
He is a one whose parent left for humiliation.
An orphan is the one who has an abandoning mother or busy father.
(Ahmed Shawqi)
Introduction:
The Gulf States, including the State of Kuwait, have undergone social and economic changes that included all different aspects of life. Among these changes is the emergence of oil as a strategic goods the growing revenues of which led to expansion in services and consequently depending on Arab and Asian expatriate labor that has its positive impacts represented in contributing in national, industrial, commercial and service development programs and plans. It also has its security, economic, cultural and social risks on family and social structure.
Kuwait and Gulf Area States have witnessed an increasing demand on servants especially female servants (domestic labor) who live with the family, interact with children and have character traits that negatively influence on the social upbringing as most of them are illiterate, of low level education, non-Muslims and married, who do not accompany their husbands or the non-married ones who have no knowledge of the Arabic vocabulary, which results in a clash and conflict in the values and habits of the Kuwaiti Muslim society.
Previous literature, conducted on the phenomenon of the widespread of foreign servants and babysitters in the State of Kuwait by number of the concerned ministries (Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Education, Planning) in the 1980s, proved that there are negative impacts represented being influenced by Western habits and values more than Kuwaiti values, the children's linguistic and cognitive impacts and social, psychological and behavioral undesirable impacts as well as cultural and religious disparity. This is due to the fact that those persons do not leave their societies to work for Kuwaiti families without having their customs, traditions, behavioral styles and intellectual and cultural attitudes.
Despite admitting the reasons for procuring servants for Kuwaiti families due to the great amount of household burdens, the wife's work, presence of old people, the high standard of living and the size of the house and despite admitting that there are negative impacts revealed by the studies conducted in the Kuwaiti society in 1980s, there is an ongoing increase in the number of servants in Kuwait, which reached about half a million in 2005. There is an urgent need that calls for conducting a new study after the elapse of about 20 years since conducting the previous studies to determine the changes that occurred on the role of servants and that of parents in the upbringing of children in order to determine the following goals:
1- Getting acquainted with the volume of th4e phenomenon, its development and the characteristics of home servants.
2- Getting acquainted the conditions of the servants, the conditions of their work and living.
3- Getting acquainted with the problems suffered from by servants or complained of by the family in which they work.
4- Coming up with recommendations and solutions to rationalize the tasks and works of household servants to protect the family and safeguard its role in social upbringing.
5- Getting acquainted with the role of official authorities (Ministry of Interior), Domestic offices to protect the rights of household servants and protect their interests.
Kuwait Social Work Society has found itself in a responsibility position towards the Arab Homeland and Kuwait society and family which the constitution stipulated the protection of its entity and the safeguarding of its vital functions in the stability of its members and the upbringing of children. Therefore, the Society conducted office and field studies about the problem of (domestic labor) and its conditions for the Kuwaiti families which cover the following aspects:
1- A big sample of household servants (1002 cases) in addition to the opinions of 596 of householders that use servants distributed on the six governorates of Kuwait and its different regions so that the findings can be representative of the original society of the research.
2- Getting acquainted with both parties of the relationship without being limited to one of them (servants and householders) so that the image can be a true one and expressive of the viewpoints of the relationship parties.
3- Shedding light on the national, official and domestic efforts for protecting the rights of domestic labor and prevent the exploitation thereof in safeguarding of the reputation of Kuwait on the international arena and Human Rights Committees.
4- Using the scientific method in collecting study data, statistically and mathematically processing them, analyzing their findings and presenting recommendations drawn from the study findings.
Kuwait Social Work Society understands the importance of using servants in the Kuwaiti family. However, it calls for rationalizing the great numbers of domestic labor that are more than the actual need. It also urges the parents to restrict the role of domestic labor in works of cooking, cleaning, agriculture, washing clothes, caring for old persons and accompanying children to schools, to be the only ones who nurse their children, instruct them social customs and values and correct ways of social upbringing so that their children can become good citizens representing genuine Arab and Islamic values away from the behavioral styles, values and customs of the societies of servants, which contradict ours. It is a national and social responsibility that is to be shouldered by parents, men of education, media and culture, voluntary work societies and to spread awareness of selecting servants, rationalizing their roles, presenting suitable recommendations to the decision makers to keep stability consistent, and taking over their responsibilities in caring for the young children who are the men of the future and protectors of the dear homeland.
Best Regards,
General Supervisor on the Study
Sheikha : Biby Nassir Al-Subah
Board Chairman
Study Plan and Its Methodological Procedure
First: Objectives of the Study:
1) Determining the characteristics of domestic labor in terms of the most common nationalities, gender, age, marital status, educational status, profession, monthly salary, etc.
2) Determining the conditions of domestic labor in terms of getting their rights in the weekly or annual leave, receiving salary on time and the value of travel ticket to their respective countries.
3) Getting acquainted with works and task with which domestic labors are assigned and the care they receive in terms of accommodation and monthly salary.
4) Getting acquainted with the problems to which domestic labor are exposed, the reasons for these problems, the cases of escape from the family and the place of residency when escaping.
5) Determining the attitudes of the families using domestic labor about the conditions of their labor, their reasons for using labor and the works these labor are assigned to do.
6) Getting acquainted with the relationship between the family and the servant in terms of granting weekly leave, paying monthly salary on time without delay and the level of the relation whether good or bad and the evidences thereof.
7) Determining the problems aroused by domestic labor and the cases of escape that encountered the families and the reasons for this from their point of view.
8) Getting acquainted with the suggestions adopted by domestic labor to improve their working conditions and the recommendations presented from families to rationalize domestic labor and making use of them well.
Second: Study Plan and Procedures:
1- Study Sample: The study took into account that the sample be largely representing the original society (families that use domestic labor in the Kuwaiti society) so that the findings can be highly objective and accurate. Therefore, the sample consisted of 1002 cases of domestic labor of acceptable characteristics where the sample was distributed on the six governorates. The sample included both males and females and different age, educational and social stages and other variables. It also included 596 families that use domestic labor with these characteristic (distributed on the six governorates and other variables).
2) Study Tool:
A) Form (A): which was applied to a domestic labor and included 30 questions that covered the basic details, the right and advantages of domestic labor, problems of domestic labor.
B) Form (B), which was applied to families that use domestic labor. It comprised 31 questions covering the main details, the role of domestic labor and its tasks, problems of domestic labor.
3) Study Procedures:
A) Research Method: The Descriptive method was used to describe the phenomenon at the present time in addition to the Historical Method which reviewed the previous literature about servants and the development of the number o servants in the Kuwaiti society over years. Also, the statistical method (Ka Test), which measures the differences between the observed repetitions and its expectations, was used, and whether these differences are significant or not or descriptive.
B- Research Procedures:
1- The two research forms were designed (A and B) and were formulated; in this regard, there has been considered the objectives of the research, easiness of questions, classifying the form and dividing it in such a way that each group of questions is put into one frame.
2- Choosing a sufficient number of efficient researchers and training them on collecting data.
3- Collecting field data from the sample in questions, revising them, classifying them in tables and relations, preparing percentages and statistically processing them (data were collected during October, November, December, 2005).
4- Final Report Writing: The theoretical study included Chapter One and Two, while the field study included Chapter Three and Four. This is in addition to interpreting and analyzing findings, commenting on statistical tables of domestic labor and the families using them.
The statistical tables of each chapter were inserted at the end of each analysis and the two forms of the research (A and B) were attached to the study as well as the scientific references.
Summary of the Study
Findings and Recommendations
First: Study Findings:
A- Domestic Labor Study (1002 cases)
1- Sample Characteristics:
A) From among the study sample (1002 cases), Indian domestic labor reached 46% out of the sample, the Filipino 25%, the Bangladeshi 13%.
B) In terms of the distribution of the sample according to age, the youth stage less than 33 years old represents 54% for males and females. Whereas for females in the same stage represent 60%. The percentage of married domestic labor reaches 70% in the study sample. For the females, their percentage reaches 67% and they are not usually accompanied by husbands.
C)The percentage of illiteracy among the individuals of the sample (illiterate + reads and writes) reaches about 49% out of the sample. The average monthly salary for all the sample individuals is 54 K.D and for males is 61.5 K.D.
2- Obtaining Weekly Leave:
A) There are 21.6 do not get their weekly leave.
B) There are 32.4% who get the leave once every two weeks.
C) There are 25.2% who get the leave once a week.
D) There are 13.6 who get their leave once a month.
3- Going with the family to spend the holiday:
A) 39.9 % out of the sample do not accompany the family.
B) 60% out of the sample accompany the family.
4- Place where they go on holiday:
A) Chalet: 50.7%
B) Visiting family 49%
C) Markets 45.7%
D) Excursions 40% (repetitive table).
5) Traveling with the family on annual leaves:
A) 16.6% out of the sample travel with the family.
B) 83.4% out of the family do not accompany the family.
6- Times of receiving the monthly salary:
A) 73.6% out of the sample receive the monthly salary on time.
B) 26.4% out of the sample get delayed in receiving the salary.
7- The family's help in transferring the salary:
A) 25.9% there is no help.
B) 33.6% there is no need for help.
C) 40.5% there is no need for help.
8- Level of Wages and Salaries:
A) The average of wages, in general, is 54 K.D monthly (females 46.5 K.D, males 61.5 K.D)
B) There is a significant proportional relationship between the expected salary, the job level, high education, the length of service period for the family and receiving the value of travel tick to the respective homeland.
9- Taking the annual leave:
A) 68.8 % once each two years.
B) 21.7% once each 3 years.
C) 8.1% once each 4 years.
10- Reasons for delay in receiving annual leave:
A) 33.5% save money.
B) 32.6 do not want to travel.
C) 28.4% , the family does not agree.
11- Bearing the expenses of travel:
A) 85% householders.
B) 15% Domestic labor.
12- Taking presents on occasions:
A) 27.8 do not get presents.
B) 78.2 get presents.
(religious occasions, success, marriage, return from travel)
13- Works done by domestic labor:
A) 38.3 cleaning the house.
B) 36.5 washing dishes.
C) 31.2% cooking food.
14- Help from householder to the domestic labor:
A) 64.7% do not help in house works.
B) 35.3 help
15- The accommodation of the domestic labor:
A) 36.5 private room.
B) 63.5% with others
16- Problems facing domestic labor:
A) 52.9 % have no problems.
B) 47.1% face problems.
Problems include abuse and vile words, overworking, less time for sleep, bad treatment, beating, accusations of stealing, beating from the sons, and accusations of many go-outs and revealing the secrets of the family.
17- Resorting to escape because of problems:
A) 16.7% leave work and escape
(Country's embassy, procurement office, one of the friends, police station, previous sponsor, one of the relatives, a new family).
A Study of Families (596 families):
1- Characteristics of the Sample:
A- Gender: males 32.4% , females 76.6%.
Number of age groups: 43.1% less than 30 years old, 30% from 35 -44 years old.
B) Marital Status: 64.1% married, 30.4% not married before,
Education:: University and above 45.3%, after secondary diploma 30.5%, secondary 16.4%.
C- Type of Accommodation: Villa 62.9%, apartment 16.8%, storey at a villa 11.4%,
Size of family: 6-5 members 31%, 3-4 members 24.3%, 7-8 members 22.6%.
D- Monthly Income: 1000- 1250 K.D, 25.5%, 500-750 K.D 16.2%, 750-1000 15%.
2- Number of domestic labor:
A- 42% one servant.
B) 30.5% two servants
C) 20% three servants
3- Domestic labor's job:
A- 97% house worker
B- 28% driver
C- 26% cook (repetitive table)
4- Works done by domestic labor:
A- 104% washing dishes
B- 96% cleaning house
C- 82% washing clothes
D- 81% ironing clothes
E- 63% cooking food (repetitive table)
5- Place of sleep for domestic labor:
A- 90% independent room inside the house
B- 16% with one of the children
C- 12% room outside the house (repetitive table)
6- Reason for using domestic labor:
A- 77.4% helping in house work
B- 44% woman's work
C- 23.2% wide and big house
D- 22.7% very big family (repetitive table).
7- Helping servants at house works:
A- 49% there is help from families.
B- 42% sometimes there is help
C- 9% there is no help
8- Taking weekly leave:
A- 28% take leave.
B- 72% do not take leave.
· Reasons for not taking leave:
Prior agreement between both parties, fear from accompanying strangers, fear from deviation and bad behavior, spending the leave with the family.
9- Paying the monthly salary:
A- 15% delay in paying the salary.
B- 15% no help is provided.
C- 6.2% no need for help.
11- Relations with the family:
A- 65% good relationships.
B- 35% ordinary relationships.
· Indicators of good relationships: honesty, cleanness, satisfying demands, caring for children, understanding instructions.
· Indicators of ordinary relationships: telling lies, carelessness, using the telephones.
12- Problems aroused by domestic labor:
A- 47% carelessness in performing duties
B- 37% excessive use of domestic appliances
C- 35% asking for sudden travel
D- 29% difficulty in training.
E- 21% conjuration and magic
F- 21% immoral acts (repetitive table)
13- Escape of domestic labor:
A- 65% no escape cases
B- 35% escape cases
· Place of escape: recruitment office, the Country's embassy, one of the friends, police station, one of the relatives.
· Reasons for escape:
o 59% contempt and insult
o 58% delay in paying salaries
o 56% prostitution and drugs
o 54% feel oppressed
o 46% temptation of another sponsor (repetitive table)
14- Reason for preferring Asian labor to Arab labor:
A- 51% easy to obtain
B- 46% accept low wage
C- 39% bear more severe conditions
D- 37% obey orders and rules
E- 37% difficulty to obtain Arab labor (repetitive table)
Second: Study Recommendations
At the end of the study and after reviewing its findings, we would like to present a number of recommendations that solve these unacceptable cases and contribute to minimizing tense relationships and disputes ensuing between the parties of the relationship (domestic labor and Kuwaiti families). The recommendations achieve the goal required and aspired from the procurement of domestic labor, that is, providing help and assistance needed by the families without negative effects or harmful results to the psychological, social and traditional atmosphere of the young children who live and co-exist with servants, get influenced by their values and special behavioral styles especially if those servants were illiterates or do not have the same doctrines and beliefs to those prevalent among the individuals of Kuwaiti society or practice different behavior styles that are contradictory with what is accepted by the Arab Muslim society.
A-Recommendations derived from the study sample's suggestions:
1- Confirming the good relationship and treatment from the part of families to domestic labor, in recognition of their human rights and human dignity.
2- Not to assign them with tasks and workers other than those the domestic labor were procured for by the families and not to assign them with works that they can not and to help them if necessary.
3- Settling disputes arising between domestic labor and Kuwaiti families on the one hand and between the domestic labor and procurement offices on the other hand on the basis of justice, provisions of laws, regulations and the contracts organizing the relationship between these parties without partiality or bias for a party at the expense of the other.
4- Flexibility in giving weekly leaves (a part of the day) to renew activity and give entertainment to the domestic labor within the limit of the restrictions that protect them from loss or blending with bad company to strike the balance between the interests of the family and the rights of domestic labor.
5- Improving salaries and increasing them for facing the high cost of living and so as to be suitable to the burdens and task the domestic labor shoulder especially in case of the wide house, large number of family members and so that there can be stable conditions and no wish to move to another sponsor.
6- Spreading awareness among the domestic labor and training them on the customs and traditions of Kuwaiti family and society to guarantee that the non-occurrence of any violations and so as to reach a state of satisfaction and understanding between both parties.
7- Selecting domestic labor in terms of basic education, health state, good conduct. Also, giving priority to Muslim domestic labor with good knowledge of Arabic language, providing them with information and skills about cleanness, food and dealing with children after they reach the territories and before receiving work.
8- Developing the regulations organizing the work of domestic labor in such a way that guarantee the rights of all parties, minimizing the violations of their procurement offices, supervising the works of offices effectively in such a way that provide labor of efficiency, integrity and knowledge of the task they were procured for.
B- General Recommendations and Suggestions:
o Not to allow domestic labor to interfere in the educational affairs or socially, psychologically and cognitively influence young children and restricting their work in house works.
o Mothers should assume their main role in caring for babies before the age of school, in case of illness, going to the hospital, preparing the children for school and revising their lessons. This improves the relationship between the mother and her children and not assign these tasks to the servant.
o Making extensions in setting up special kindergarten schools related to governmental institutions and private companies that use certain numbers of working women. Encouraging domestic cooperative societies and voluntary domestic societies to establish kindergarten houses for providing care to the children of the working women to reduce dependence on servants in caring for children under the age of school.
o Using different mass media in spreading awareness among the citizens and advise them not to depend unjustifiably on servants. This is due to the fact that those servants convey customs and behavioral styles from their societies, which might conflict at most times with these ones prevalent in the Kuwaiti society.
o Confirming that medical examination shall be conducted before entering the territories and or periodical basis on the domestic labor so as to guarantee that they do not have infectious or endemic disease in their country and they do not communicate these diseases to the Kuwaiti family and society.
o Rationalizing the use of domestic labor to minimize the increase in their numbers in the recent years, relating the number for the single family with objective limitations and criteria such as the wife's work, wide house, and number of family members, sick, handicapped or old people in the family.
o Teaching a subject about "fundamental of education" at faculties and higher institutes to include the principles of psychological development of children, ways of dealing with them, solving the problems associated with their growth, the responsibility of parental care in bringing up children.
o Following up conducting specialized scientific studies about the influence of using domestic labor on the Kuwaiti families and children, generalizing the findings thereof, conveying these findings to the decision makers (executive – legislative) so that these studies and researches be referential for making decision and amending legislations that achieve the interests of the family and children.
o Concluding a trilateral contract (labor procurement office, sponsor, domestic labor) in which the rights and obligations of each party shall be determined, as well as the due penalties in case of default. This contract shall be for a provisional period, in preparation for enacting a legislation regarding domestic labor similar to the Labor Law in the Domestic Sector.
A- In this contract, it should be taken into consideration the balance in rights and obligations imposed upon the parties of the relationship as well as the constant surveillance over servants' offices and urging them to be committed to the roles they have to assume.
If they do not keep to what was agreed upon, the sponsoring second party shall have the right to claim them for repaying the amounts of money these offices received and which were agreed upon when contracting. This is in addition to returning the worker to his/her country at their expense.
B- Expanding the sponsor's obligations towards the worker to include:
1- The sponsor shall provide appropriate accommodation in which there are appropriate means of life for the worker as well as providing the worker with food and clothing at the average of his food and clothing.
2- The level of the worker's wage has to be raised in such a way that suits the type of work the work does. In addition, the sponsor shall be committed to transfer the working third party's salary to the bank on a monthly basis without delay and inform the worker of the same.
3- The sponsor shall be committed to treat the worker in a good way and provide him with due in all aspects and not to harm him materially or morally.
C- The working hours should be determined and periods of rest shall come in between without assigning the worker with other works other than the ones agreed upon when signing the contract.
D- The weekly day-off due for the worker should be determined before the beginning of the enforcement of its contract with the sponsor and day-off may be amended by the worker if its suits with the sponsor's working conditions.
E- The contract should include the right of the worker to claim for a leaving indemnity that shall not be less than ten days per year of service.
The worker shall be deprived of the indemnity leave if the worker asked for terminating the contract of his own accord or escaped without an excuse acceptable for the court unless the worker has spent four or more year in which case the worker shall be entitled to half of the leaving indemnity.
G- The contract shall include that in case of the worker's death, the sponsor shall transport the work's corpse to its country of origin at the sponsor's expense if its family asked for the same. This is in addition to give its family all his due amounts of money on the condition that this shall be in coordination with the Department of Domestic Labor.
H- Giving the worker the right to move to another sponsor at the end of the contract if the sponsor does not want to keep the worker and without violating any other law in regards thereof.
10- Issuing a complete and comprehensive legislation entitled "Using Domestic Labor" to determine the obligation and responsibilities of the concerned authorities (Department of Domestic Labor), their powers and the rights and obligations of the three parties (procurement offices, sponsors, servants) according to the principles of human rights and social justice to minimize the present problems and disputes.
The proposed legislation shall, which is called for( by the Department of Domestic Labor, Human Rights Committees, those related to the stability of conditions of domestic labor) shall include the following principles:
A- Definitions and aspects of applying the law.
B- Conditions of working as a servant in general and juveniles in particular.
C- Principle and parties of the contract.
D- Wages.
E- Working hours and vacations.
F- Working conditions.
G- Contract termination and leaving indemnity.
H- Compensation for work injuries and death.
I- General provisions.
Study References:
1- Dr. Badr Al-Umor: Real Reasons for the Phenomenon of Using Foreign Babysitters" Follow-up Office, Bahrain, 1987.
2- Dr. Hamid Zahran: Developmental Psychology, Alam Al-Kutub, Cairo, 1977.
3- Dr. Hamid Al-Feqi: The Impact of Mother's Carelessness on the Psychological Growth of the Child – Cairo 1989.
4- Dr. Hussain Al-Refaee: Social, Educational and Security Impacts of Foreign Babysitters, Follow-up Office, Bahrain, 1987.
5- Khalaf Ahmed Khalaf: Characeristics and Qualities of Foreign Babysitters – Follow-up Office, Bahrain 1987.
6- Dr. Khalil Muawad: Psychology of Development- Al-Fekr Al-Jame'i Publishing Company , Cairo 1983.
7- Dr. Salah Subeih: Stability and Variability in Social Customs in Kuwaiti Scoiety- Kuwait University 1978.
8- Dr. Abdul Baset Mohamed Hassan: Fundamentals of Social Research – Wahba Library, Cairo 1983.
9- Dr. Abdul Raouf Al-Jardawy: Immigration and Social Alienation in the Kuwaiti Society, Al-Rubaiaan Publishing House, Kuwait 1984.
10- Dr. Abdu Raouf al-Jardawy: The Phenomenon of Servants and Babysitters and its Social Dimension in the Gulf States – Dat Al-Salasel, Kuwait 1990.
11- Dr. Abdul Monem & Helmy Al-Meligy: Psychological Development- Al-Nahda Al-Arabia Publishing House, Beirut, 1971.
12- Dr. Fawziya Diyab: Social Values and Traditions- Al-Kitab Al-Arabi Publishing House, Cairo, 1966.
13- Dr. Mohamed Abdul Hadi Afifi: In Fundamentals of Educations – Egyptian Anglo Library, Cairo, 1975.
14- Follow-up Office: The Scientific Meeting for Studying the Impact of Foreign Babysitters on the Characteristics of Arab Family in the Arabian Gulf – Bahrain, 1986.
15- Ministry of Planning: Population and Work Power – Five-year Plan Documents 85/1999.
16- Ministry of Planning: The Phenomenon of Widespread Servants and its Impact on the Kuwaiti Family and Sciety – Kuwait 1983.
17- Ministry of Education: Babysitter and Childeren's Upbringing- Comparative Study for the Methods of Mother and Education – Kuwait 1985.
18- Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor : Influence of Foreign Babysitters on the Kuwaiti Family , Kuwait, 1985 (Final Report Analysis and Writing, Dr. Abdul Raouf Al-Jardawy)
19- Guy Roucher: Talcott Parsons and American – 19 Sciology, London 1974.
20- W. Olson: Child Development, Boston 1959 (Translated by: Dr. Ibrahim Hafiz, Cair 1965).
Acknowledgement
Kuwaiti Social Work Society would like to express it heartily-felt gratitude towards everyone who contributed with this scientific effort and sincere advice in carrying out this study, for example:
Ministry of Interior
Public Immigration Department
Domestic Labor Department
Public Department for Investigations
Department of Investigating Special Misdemeanors
Masharee' Al-Khair Establishment |