In brief
Young women from Kenya and Uganda seek better lives in Saudi Arabia but often confront violence and abuse instead. With hundreds of deaths and countless horror stories, the domestic labor system raises urgent questions.
In many parts of the world, being a housekeeper or nanny is viewed as a safe and stable job. But for many young women from East Africa, the reality is starkly different. A recent investigation revealed that numerous women traveling from Kenya and Uganda to Saudi Arabia for domestic work often return home traumatized or not at all. Over the past five years, at least 274 Kenyan women have died in Saudi Arabia—many of them under suspicious circumstances.These young women embark on their journeys full of hope, only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of abuse. Interviews with over 90 workers and their families exposed countless harrowing experiences, including beatings, starvation, and sexual assault. Families are left questioning the cause of their loved ones' deaths, especially when autopsy reports reveal mysterious injuries or fail to address clear signs of violence.Despite being regulated by the governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Saudi Arabia, the recruitment and subsequent treatment of these workers are increasingly concerning. Advocates have long pointed to outdated Saudi labor laws as a primary contributor, yet our investigation hints that systemic failures within the entire process may be to blame.Not only do workers face aggressive treatment, but the system is designed in a way that capitalizes on their vulnerabilities. Many find themselves trapped in a nightmare rather than the dream life they envisioned, raising serious ethical and legal questions about the international trade in domestic workers.
