Maid locked up with no wages for 16 years

A Saudi employer locked up his Sri Lankan housemaid at his house without a salary for nearly 16 years, during which she had never visited her home country, a newspaper in the oil-rich Gulf Kingdom reported on Wednesday.

The unnamed employer has also refused to renew her residence visa and prevented her from leaving his house in the southern province of Jazan, the Arabic language daily Sabq said.

“We have just discovered this serious act of human rights abuse,” said Ahmed Al Bahkali, branch manager of the Saudi National Human Rights Commission.

“She has been living in tragic conditions…the man has been detained until he gives her all her rights and dues, and allows her to go home.”

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