Philippine Maids Seek Shelter From Abuse

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. -- The Arab family that hired Lisa forced her to work impossible hours, she said. Foot massages were ordered at 2 a.m., then breakfast had to be made four hours later. And for half a year, the family paid the Filipina maid nothing. . . . Filipina women have been flooding into this fast-growing city to work as maids for as little as $160 a month. But the influx has led to a doubling of those seeking shelter in recent weeks, with as many as five runaways a day fleeing to the consulate, labor attache Vicente Cabe said Wednesday. . . . With so many reports of abuse, Indonesia recently banned unskilled women from working in the Gulf as house maids. Philippine Consul-General Generoso Calonge said he wanted his government to do the same. By: Jim Krane, WashingtonPost.com.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/18/AR2005081800213.html, last visited August 21, 2005.