Emily Cherop Kaptuwai, a 27-year-old Kenyan woman, travelled to Saudi Arabia in 2021 to work as a domestic worker hoping to improve her family’s financial situation....CONTINUE READING
Unfortunately, her dreams turned into a nightmare. Emily fell ill and is currently hospitalized in Riyadh. Her situation is further complicated by the expiry of her passport and identity documents, leaving her stranded in a foreign country.
A video plea for help from Emily has circulated on social media. In the video, she explains that she is unable to work due to illness and has been separated from her belongings, including her money and identification documents.
Back in Kenya, Emily’s family is desperately trying to bring her home. Her husband John Wekesa Wamukota is particularly distressed. He reveals that communication with Emily had been sporadic and he recently lost contact altogether.
John is unemployed and lacks the financial resources to facilitate his wife’s return home. Adding to the family’s woes is the lack of clarity surrounding the circumstances that led to Emily’s hospitalization. John highlights that even after managing to re-establish contact, Emily’s explanations remain vague.
Emily’s sister, Silvia Kaptuwai expresses their desire to have Emily receive medical care in her home country. Silvia regrets their decision to allow Emily to travel to Saudi Arabia for work, especially considering the hardships she has endured.
The family is appealing to the Kenyan government to intervene and assist in Emily’s return. They are hopeful that with the government’s support, Emily can be reunited with her family and receive proper medical attention in Kenya.
The global phenomenon of labour migration, while offering economic opportunities for both sending and receiving countries, presents a complex challenge in ensuring fair treatment and well-being for migrant workers.
The Gulf region, with its booming economies and vast infrastructure projects, exemplifies this paradox. A growing and diverse migrant workforce fuels this progress, yet faces significant inequalities and violations of labor rights.
As the number of migrants in the Gulf is projected to rise further, addressing these issues becomes not just a humanitarian imperative but an essential step towards sustainable development.
While advancements in engineering and technology transform physical landscapes, similar strides are called for to address the healthcare disparities that plague this vulnerable population.
According to labour unions, A failure to ensure their health rights translates not only to human suffering but also to public health risks and decreased productivity.
Kenyans in the Gulf want the states to prioritize reforms that dismantle exploitative labour practices and guarantee access to quality healthcare for their migrant workforces..<<CONTINUE READING>>
