Reports of Arab employers maltreating their domestic helpers are very common. But the experience of Maricel Bubos, 28, in the hands of her Saudi Arabian masters would make anyone shudder.
Maricel had many whip marks and scars on her back caused by shallow stab wounds. She could not clench her hands because of scars caused by flat iron burns. Her right eye has gone blind because it was poked with a stick. Her feet were disfigured because of beatings (by her employer) using hard wood.
Maricel’s employers were Muhammad Abdullah Alkatani, allegedly a police general, and his wife Najela Hadawi Alkatani.
There was a time, she said, when she and another Filipino maid were made to stand stark naked under the heat of the sun for hours.
The beatings, which took place every day, apart from other indignities, began three days after they started working in the Alkatani household in June, 2008 until their departure on Feb. 27, 2011.
Maricel and her fellow maids were not given their salaries for the duration of their stay in that hell hole.
Maricel said they worked 22 hours daily, sleeping for only two hours, without any day off for two years and eight months.
She was handed only 3,000 rials (AUD700.00) by her employers when she left for the Philippines.
Maricel was recruited by Hannah International Manpower Services with offices along Buendia Avenue in Makati City.
The firm is owned by Muhammad Qwaiter, a Jordanian, and his Filipino wife Edith.
When her male employer beat her on her third day of work, Maricel said she sent a text message to Edith Qwaiter to complain. Instead of rescuing her, Edith allegedly told her employer about her complaint, so she suffered more beatings.