“Once we step in their homes, we are no longer human”: Testimonies of Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, 9 July 2026

The Filipino women interviewed described working days that stretched far beyond what they had agreed to during recruitment and in clear breach of Saudi Arabian law. Their accounts show that this included not only the length of the working day and lack of rest, but also the nature and scope of the work itself, with many describing constantly shifting between childcare, cleaning, and other tasks they had not expected...Across testimonies, work often not only filled the day but also extended into the night, leaving little room for rest. Most described working at least 14 hours each day, though some were on duty for up to 21 hours daily. Even basic daily breaks were uncertain...In some cases, women interviewed were made to work in more than one household, contrary to the terms of their employment agreements...

New testimonies from the Philippines point to similar dynamics, often manifested through employers’ confiscation of or control over passports and phones, or limits on their movement and ability to leave...Despite many saying they managed to retain their phones, the former domestic workers said they were effectively limited in how and when they could use them, affecting their ability to contact their families...

Several described being subjected to sexual harassment or assault, often when left alone with their male employer or another male relative in the household...Their isolation in the homes and lack of access to the outside world also meant that most were unable to report their treatment to the police or pursue charges against their abusers...Many of the women interviewed also described degrading treatment at the hands of their employers, including food deprivation, inadequate living conditions and verbal abuse...She was also threatened with constant surveillance through CCTV cameras installed in the house...

In some cases, discrimination shaped how workers were treated. One worker described being told not to touch certain items, including religious objects, because she was considered “dirty” as a Christian...Others spoke about being shouted at, insulted or belittled during everyday work. A few recalled being called degrading names in Arabic, including: “Kalba” (dog) and “Mafi mokh” (no brain)...

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