BBC: Foreign domestic helpers in Cyprus are under slavery

A post on its website stigmatizing the treatment of migrant women in Cyprus on the occasion of the serial murder case is hosted by the BBC.

The article has the characteristic headline "Murders in Cyprus reveal the mistreatment of immigrant women".

It is noted that in the midst of the shock that prevails on the island, accusations are made against the Police that it did not properly investigate the disappearances of the victims.

"The case has revealed a system of exploitation that allows tens of thousands of migrant women to work as domestic helpers under conditions that critics have described as conditions of modern-day slavery," she told the BBC.

One such foreign domestic worker who spoke to the BBC said the killings were a wake-up call to show that her colleagues were suffering under the current system and that women were under-represented in Cypriot society.

A representative of the Filipino organization in Cyprus states that she regularly receives complaints from her compatriots that their salaries are below 400 euros per month or that they are forced to work 12 to 14 hours a day, without interruptions and frequent sexual harassment.

Citing a statement by the Cypriot government, the BBC reports that in the event of a breach of the terms of the contracts entered into by the foreign domestic helpers, a strict investigation procedure is followed.

A Filipino domestic helper who has been in Cyprus since 2011 says that immigrant women in her own place "sacrifice" their lives to support their children. "They treat us like slaves," he says.

It is noted that these women find work in Cyprus through agencies in their home countries, mainly in the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal.

They pay agencies $ 2.000 to $ 7.000. Although the government says these charges are illegal, the woman who speaks to the BBC says she took out a bank loan to pay and that she spent the first year in Cyprus simply repaying the interest, initially receiving a minimum wage of 400 euros.

This woman eventually broke out of the first house she worked in as she was being sexually harassed. She reported the harassment to her agency, which told her she could not leave her "friendly" employer until six months had passed.

Another domestic helper complains of sexual harassment, adding that the Cypriot police are not doing anything. The article points out that the Police and the government assure that such complaints are fully investigated.

Among other complaints, the BBC reports cases where a domestic helper works in more than one home, so that employers share the cost, but this is illegal.

The complaints of migrant women are also recorded that they receive only basic medical care, without dental or gynecological coverage or that they find it difficult to receive their pension, despite the assurance of the Cypriot authorities that immigrants are entitled to the same social protection as Cypriots.

"The discrimination here is huge. "Racism abounds," said one of the women, from the Philippines.

Doros Polykarpou from the aid organization KISA, comments, finally, that "the whole system is designed to keep them isolated and vulnerable and excluded. These are conditions similar to modern slavery. "

Source: KYPE