THE CHAIRMAN of the Foreigners Support Group yesterday told the Cyprus Mail that sexual abuse of housemaids was a common and disgusting phenomenon on the island.
He was speaking after a press report that police had dismissed a maid claiming to have been harassed by her employer. She was allegedly told to put up with the abuse or go home.
According to Doros Polycarpou, the extent of what goes on is far worse than the isolated incidents that make it into print. “I believe this happens all the time. The problem is that some people are stuck in the past. They think they own this girl, like they own their car, their house or their television, that they are an object,” he said. “They are raped many times. Or else the girl agrees, but doesn’t like it.
Sometimes an employer will hear that someone else is having a relationship with his maid, so he’ll keep up the pressure on her until she gives in,” he added.
Polycarpou said the law was not strong enough to deter such abuse, or shake people out of inherited attitudes. “They see ways to take advantage of this situation,” he said. The Labour Office yesterday confirmed that complaints about employers were common among the 10,000 housemaids working in Cyprus.
A representative for the Migration Department also said maids were often taken advantage of. Senior Labour Officer Alecos Economides told the Cyprus Mail he was dealing with 50 cases. He has two other colleagues who also examine disputes.
Most of the problems arise over working hours, food or leave. Maids are contracted to work 44 hours a week, with one day off a week. Polycarpou said it was common for them to work from 6am to 10pm, something he termed “disgusting”.
Although Economides said complaints of sexual abuse were very rare, Polycarpou retorted most women kept their mouths shut, desperate to fulfil the terms of their contract and take the money they had saved home to their relatives.
If the Migration Department Economides cannot broker a solution and the girl is deemed in the wrong, she will be deported. If officials find in her favour, she will be found another position.
“I had one girl who complained after her four years were up that she didn’t get her leave or her last three salaries. I’ve recommended that she be allowed to stay in Cyprus long enough to get her money through the courts,” Economides said.
