Research Paper
Patterns of abuse amongst Sri Lankan women returning home after working as domestic maids in the Middle East: An exploratory study of medico-legal referrals

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2016.11.001Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Labor migrant abuse is well recognised, but poorly characterised within scientific literature.

  • Our study responds to a call for research evidence based on articles published in this Journal.

  • Our study shows violence directed at migrant workers manifest across a spectrum of abusive patterns.

  • Very few studies within literature have adopted the rigorous method to ascertain patterns of abuse.

  • We discuss policy and programmatic strategies to address the issue.

Abstract

Objective

Migrant worker abuse is well recognised, but poorly characterised within the scientific literature. This study aimed to explore patterns of abuse amongst Sri Lankan women returning home after working as domestic maids.

Methods

Sri Lanka has over 2 million of its citizens employed overseas as international labor migrants. A cross-sectional study was conducted on Sri Lankan female domestic maids returning from the Middle East region who were referred for medico-legal opinion.

Results

A total of 20 women were included in the study. Average length of their employment overseas was 14 months. Complaints of physical violence directed mainly through their employers were made by 60% of women. Upon physical examination, two-thirds had evidence of injuries, with a third being subjected to repetitive/systematic violence. Eighty percent suffered some form of psychological trauma. Personal identity papers and travel documents had been confiscated by the employer in 85% of cases, with two thirds indicating they were prevented and/or restricted from leaving their place of work/residence.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that female domestic maid abuse manifests through multiple pathways. Violence against such workers span the full spectrum of physical, financial, verbal, emotional abuse and neglect, as defined by the World Health Organization. Findings from this exploratory study cannot be generalized to the large volume of migrant worker outflows. Further research is needed to determine incidence and define patterns in other migrant worker categories such as low-skilled male workers.

Section snippets

Background and rationale for the study

Globally an estimated 52–100 million people work as domestic migrant workers abroad, 75% of them women, with many having little or no access to legal, social and health protection schemes.1 Many have limited or no access to legal, social and health protection schemes. Despite being recognised as a critical issue at the nexus of development and human rights, migrant worker abuse is poorly documented in the scientific literature.2, 3

Nearly one in ten Sri Lankan citizens are employed overseas as

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study design was used. Sri Lankan female domestic maids returning from the Middle East region referred for medico-legal opinion were interviewed by a judicial medical officer (JMO) and a comprehensive medico-legal examination undertaken.

Socio-demographic characteristics

A total of 20 women were included in the study with the majority being of Sinhalese ethnicity (60%) (Table 1). The mean age of the interviewees were 35.6 years, with a range of 22–52 years. The majority of the participants had secondary education (75%), and had a literacy of at least one language.

Patterns of migration

Details of migration and employment history are presented in Table 2. The majority of participants (90%) returned prematurely, before contract period of employment. The average duration of work

Discussion

While the exploitation and abuse of female migrant workers have been well publicised13 there is a paucity of research evidence in examining cases of such maid abuse. This exploratory study sought to identify and discern patterns of worker abuse, and capture relevant experiences in returning international migrant workers. The study is the first to report findings of maid abuse through cases examined through a medico-legal process in Sri Lanka.

Our study demonstrates that migrant worker abuse

Conclusion

With growing numbers of low-skilled labour migrant flows from low to middle income countries, migrant worker abuse remains a concern from a human rights groups and a medico-legal point of view.1, 2 Migrant worker abuse can be defined as physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, spiritual, verbal, financial, cultural abuse and neglect, often occurring through multiple trajectories of abuse and throughout the migration cycle (pre-departure at destination or upon return). Future iterations of

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the engagement of study participants who extend all cooperation in what is challenging and difficult research area and clinical investigation process. Their resilience is truly inspiring. We acknowledge the support of clinical staff at Negombo General Hospital, IOM Sri Lanka (Chief of Mission) and IOM Headquarters (Director of Migration Health Division) for supporting us in undertaking the study in addition to our regular work programs. Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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