Confusion over insurance policy for Lankan maids

Even as the Sri Lankan government's landmark insurance policy aimed at protecting the rights of housemaids took effect in the UAE on Sunday, several recruitment agents approached the Sri Lankan consulate in Dubai on Monday and expressed concern over its implementation.

Consulate officials, on the other hand, have promised to look into the matter and "iron out" any issues.

Lankan authorities signed an agreement with the Oman Insurance Company to provide insurance cover to housemaids in the UAE.

Angry agents gathered on Monday morning and alleged that the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions in the UAE had not made any efforts to disseminate information among the sponsors, be they nationals or expatriates.

In a written petition to the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment, about 15 agencies expressed fear that instead of the sponsor, they would have to shell out the Dh200 annual premium for the compulsory "life and personal accident insurance."

"If sponsors aren't informed of the new policy, then we would be compelled to pay the insurance premium. The missions must coordinate with the UAE government and other authorities concerned to raise awareness about the new policy, insisting that the costs must be borne by the local sponsor," said an agent based in Ajman.

They also wanted the insurance to cover travel costs of housemaids returning home within three months of their arrival in the UAE.

Khaleej Times had reported in July that the new cover to enhance protection and social security of the island nation's domestic sector workers overseas, would come into effect by mid-August in the UAE.

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Lankan maid commits suicide -Kuwait

A Sri Lankan housemaid, whose identity has not been given reportedly jumped to her death from the third floor domestic labor office in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, reports Arrouiah daily.

The remains of the victim have been referred to Forensics. Police are investigating the incident.

Extracted from,
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/kuwaitnews/

Paralysed maid returns to Sri Lanka after two years in Sharjah hospital

A paralysed domestic worker from Sri Lanka finally boarded a flight home on Saturday after being stranded in a UAE hospital for over two years.

Rejina John’s departure has evoked a mixed reaction from all those associated with her stay in the country. Their happiness at seeing Rejina return home was tinged with sadness as they will all miss the feisty young woman.

Despite losing her ability to speak, Rejina managed to connect with staff at the Kuwaiti Hospital in Sharjah with enthusiastic responses and an endearing smile.

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Lankan maid commits suicide at Dubai airport

A Sri Lankan woman committed suicide at the Dubai International Airport recently by hanging herself.

Her young children, who are in shock, are now waiting anxiously for the remains of their mother to reach them.

Kala Sangarapillai, 30, who was working as a housemaid in Kuwait and was on her way to Sri Lanka via Dubai to see her family when she allegedly hanged herself in the ladies restroom at the Dubai airport three weeks back.

An official from the General Department of Forensic Science of Dubai Police said, “The Sri Lankan woman hanged herself from the ceiling of the airport’s ladies restroom and was found by the cleaners. The body of the victim is still in the police mortuary.”

He added that the body would be handed over to the authorities concerned after getting approval from the Dubai Public Prosecution on completion of all legal and administrative procedures.

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Sri Lankan maids to get a pay hike from Jan.

Sri Lankan housemaids in the UAE will have to be paid a minimum salary of Dh825 per month from January 1, 2008.

Officials from the Sri Lankan Consulate in Dubai yesterday told Khaleej Times that the Sri Lankan missions have notified recruiting agents of the revised minimum wages.

The Sri Lankan government has revised the minimum wages of housemaids in the entire Gulf. While Dh825 has been set for the UAE, the wages in other countries in the Middle East have been set according to their respective per capita income.

Sri Lankan Consul-General Wasantha Senanayake said, “We have sent a circular to all the agents this week stating that any new contract drawn for housemaids from January 1 will have a minimum wage of Dh825 vis-a-vis the existing Dh600. All employers will have to pay Sri Lankan housemaids this revised amount.”

This decision comes in the wake of the visit by Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Dr Keheliya Rambukwella, to Dubai in October, when he told reporters that the government was considering increasing the wages.

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Delay in issuing visas to Sri Lankan team to enter Saudi a puzzle

Saudi Arabian Embassy in Sri Lanka has so far not issued the necessary visa's for the Sri Lankan team, including the Deputy Foreign Minister, to enter Saudi Arabia and make representations on behalf of the 19-year -old Sri Lankan House maid, Rizana Nafeek, sentenced to beheading.

The visa applications were made a week ago and the delay is yet to be explained. The father and mother of the condemned teenage housemaid is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to appeal in person for clemency from Mr & Mrs Naif Jiziyan Khalaf Al Otaibi, the father and mother of the deceased 4-month-old boy who was alleged to have been killed by the Sri Lanka Housemaid.

The Sri Lankan team due to leave for Saudi Arabia is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila. Others in the team are Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, director general of Middle East and North African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moulavi M.B.M. Zarook, representative of the Jamiyathul Ulema (Council of Islamic Theologians), Rizana's father, Mohammed Nafeek and mother Razeena.

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After Two Years, Lankan Officials Move in Rizana Case

A high-level Sri Lankan delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila will arrive here soon to make a personal appeal for clemency to the parents of an infant that died under the care of a Sri Lankan woman who came to Saudi Arabia after turning 17, allegedly with documents forged by the employment recruiter that gave a false date of birth.

“As a democratic country, we respect the laws of the host country,” Bhaila told Arab News. “However, we want to make a personal appeal to the parents to consider a pardon for this girl who had committed the murder when she was a minor.”

In May 2005, Rizana Nafeek was assigned to take care of a Saudi family’s infant child. After two weeks on the job, the child died under her care. The parents said that Rizana strangled the child to death.

Sri Lankan officials said that Rizana initially confessed to the crime while in custody, but that during the trial she explained that the confession — which was allegedly made shortly after her arrest at a police station with no translators (Rizana doesn’t speak Arabic) — was made under pressure of the moment.

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0&article=98340&d=10&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

Minor Sri Lankan Muslim Girl was sentenced to death by three Saudi judges on a confession under duress

Miss Rizana Nafeek , a 17 year old Muslim house maid from Sri Lanka has been sentenced to death by a Saudi Arabian court of three judges on a confession obtained under duress by the Saudi Arabian police, the girl has complained.

The poor Muslim girl had been sent to Saudi Arabia misstating her age by a crooked job agency that added six years to her age to make her a house maid to do household chores and her master wanted her to baby sit their four months old infant in addition to the other endless work, for which task she had been never trained, it has been also revealed.

The infant died while the teenager was bottle feeding the baby and the police coerced Nafeek to give a confession that she killed the baby, under which the three Saudi judges sentenced her to death, she has revealed, to Sri Lankan embassy officials.

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