‘I want to leave but I’m scared’: Pandemic increases risk of violence for Gulf’s domestic workers

Lockdown measures, put in place to stem the spread of the virus, have put already vulnerable domestic maids under more pressure

For the first time since she moved to Kuwait to become a live-in domestic worker, Maryanne believes her safety is in danger. She tends to a family of six and their ongoing confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic has caused tensions in the home to fray, putting her in the firing line.

“Yesterday, my boss acted like he wanted to hurt me, but I quickly ran to my room and locked it,” says the 39-year-old from the Philippines, in an interview with the Telegraph. “I cry so much because my employers are always angry. I have to be alert in case something happens to me.”

English | October 20, 2020

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