Two women who were tricked to go and work in Kuwait have escaped from that country after going through torture.
The women, sought help from the Malawian Embassy in Kuwait which facilitated their return to Malawi after their passports were confiscated by their employers.
Chileka Airport Immigration Post spokesperson Chilungamo Kapulula confirmed the escape of the two and said they landed at Chileka International Airport on Monday this week.
“The two women ran away from their employers because of hardships they went through in that country. They were sold in Kuwait to work as nannies and domestic workers. They had their passports confiscated and they were ill-treated,” said Kapulula.
The two used emergency certificates whose copies we have seen.
Kapulula added that the women were left hungry most of the times, made to work during odd hours and were beaten for no good reasons. He said they also faced racial discrimination.
Kapulula said Chileka Airport Immigration Post has started referring the people travelling to Kuwait to police for vetting.
Ministry of Labour, Youth and Manpower Development is aware of the abuses Malawians face in Kuwait and other countries and released strict measures to guide labour migrants and private employment agencies warning them that failure to comply will result in deregistration and to be liable for prosecution should any Malawian migrant worker they facilitated their travel suffers abuse or exploitation.
Principal Secretary in the ministry Patrick Kabambe said the ministry is aware of an increase in reported cases of abuse and exploitation of Malawians working abroad, particularly in the Middle East.
“It is even more disheartening to learn that most of those who find themselves in such unfortunate situation migrate after fulfilling all the requirements for the job offered as set by the prospective employer.
“The reports emerging are to the effect that upon taking up employment, the identity and travel documents of the unsuspecting Malawians are retained by the employers. The conditions of work turn out to be worse off than what was promised and in some cases, even the type of job changes to one that is worse off, for example from hair dresser in a beauty salon to domestic worker,” he said in a press statement.
The ministry said failure to comply with the above may result in the cancellation of the registration to the local employment agency concerned.
It says where a Malawian migrant worker suffers abuse or exploitation the Malawian private employment agency that facilitated the employment may be liable to prosecution.
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