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Amnesty International report finds ongoing abuse of Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia
A new Amnesty International report states that Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia continue to face labour exploitation and sexual abuse. The findings are based on interviews with 19 women conducted in March 2026.
Jul 13, 4:30 AM·1m read1 source
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Amnesty International reported that Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia continue to face labour exploitation and sexual abuse. The rights group said conditions had shown little improvement despite reforms that included the abolition of the kafala sponsorship system in 2025.
The report drew on interviews conducted in March 2026 with 19 Filipino women who had worked as domestic staff in the kingdom. Interviewees described excessive working hours, restrictions on movement, confinement, and sexual violence. Amnesty International stated that the patterns matched those documented in its earlier research on Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.
Background on reforms Saudi Arabia ended the kafala system last year, a change the kingdom said would increase worker protections. The report found that employers retained significant control over domestic workers despite the policy shift. The women’s names were changed in the report to protect their identities.
