By Assan Bah
At least six Gambian women have returned home from Saudi Arabia with heartbreaking stories of abuse, hunger, and poor treatment while working as domestic workers under a government-to-government labour agreement.
The agreement, signed between The Gambia and Saudi Arabia in 2024, was meant to help young Gambian women find decent work in Saudi homes. The Ministry of Trade promised that the women would receive good salaries, safe housing, food, medical care, and respect for their rights. In February 2025, over 50 women were sent to Saudi Arabia under this deal. But many of these promises were broken.
“I never rested, I never slept”
Fatou Jobe (not her real name) was one of the women recruited. Speaking from Saudi Arabia in May, before returning to The Gambia, she said her job was unbearable.
“The work is always too much,” she said. “I clean the house, cook, wash clothes, and iron. I never rested. I don’t sleep at night.”
She said her employer didn’t allow her to rest, even when sick. “When I complained, she would promise to let me rest, but the next day I had to work even more.”
Fatou also said she didn’t get enough to eat. “They eat all the time, but they give us very little food. Sometimes I saved leftovers in the oven during Ramadan, but they would throw them away.”
She said she was mocked by the children and even slapped by her employer. “I just want to go home. I’m afraid I will go mad if I stay here. I told my agent I want to return, but he said I must buy my own ticket. Where will my family get that kind of money?”
Fatou also said her passport was taken upon arrival, even though the contract said it should not be. “They took all our passports. We don’t sleep well. We’re locked inside. Our phones are taken and only given to us for a few hours. Sometimes there is no network, so we can’t talk to our families.”
She added: “We were told food, housing, and medical bills would be covered. But I went to the hospital twice and had to pay both times.”
“They didn’t give us food or a proper room”
Another woman, Mariama Sidibeh, had a similar experience. She said they were told in The Gambia that they would be safe and supported.
“They said we would get contact details for Gambian officials in Saudi Arabia, but we got nothing,” she said. “Once we arrived, our phones and passports were taken by the recruitment agency.”
Mariama said her employer gave her a small room with no bed, just a mat. “There was no window or proper door. I was very tired. I asked for food and water, but she refused.”
When she finally spoke to her agent, she was told to “manage” or face the consequences. “I said I’d rather leave than stay for two years in those conditions.”
She was taken back to the agency office. “The place was overcrowded. Two of us had to share one hospital bed. We were locked inside all day. We only came out for meals — twice a day, 30 minutes each time.”
Government says they are “learning”
The Ministry of Trade confirmed that at least six women have returned and said they are trying to fix the problems. Fabba Jammeh, the Director of Employment, admitted that things did not go as planned.
“No program will be perfect at the start,” he said. “We are learning from these issues.”
He explained that employers took the passports to help open bank accounts, register for SIM cards, and arrange health services. “In Saudi Arabia, you need documents to access healthcare,” he said.
He also said that the food may be different from what Gambians are used to, but the workers were trained before travelling. “We told them to contact the Ministry, Labour Department, NAATIP, or our embassy if they had problems.”
Jammeh said the contract states that workers are entitled to rest, a day off each week, and annual leave. But he also said, “Domestic work is not like other work. You rest when there’s no work.”
He confirmed that 59 women reached Saudi Arabia out of 61 who were selected. “Six have returned. Four more are at a transition centre because they have issues with their employers.”
Recruitment agencies react
Modou Camara of Outsource Recruitment Agency said his firm sent 29 workers. Two have come back. “If someone leaves before the end of the contract without a valid reason, they must refund some of the expenses,” he said.
He said passports and phones were kept to avoid problems like theft, and that workers get full access to services after three months when they receive their residence permits.
Muhammed Jabang, Human Resource Manager of Gam Jobs Ltd, said his agency sent around 22–23 workers. “Three have returned — one said she was spiritually unwell, another was pregnant, and the third gave personal reasons.”
He added: “We write down every complaint and report it to our partners in Saudi Arabia. We don’t force anyone to stay, but if you leave early, there are consequences.”
A victim with no trust left
One woman, whose name is withheld, returned to The Gambia while pregnant and ill.
“I don’t trust anyone anymore,” she said. “I came here with empty hands. I’m sick every day. I’m six months pregnant, I have high blood pressure, and I’m ashamed to face my family.”
She added: “It’s not fair. I didn’t cause this. I feel pain. I don’t want to talk to anybody again.”
Amnesty International report raises alarm
Amnesty International’s 2025 report on Saudi Arabia confirms that many foreign domestic workers face abuse. The report mentions long working hours, passport seizures, poor treatment, and unpaid wages. It calls for urgent reforms to Saudi Arabia’s labour system.
What comes next?
The government says it will investigate each case to see whether the returnees had good reasons for leaving early. If not, they may have to repay some costs.
But many Gambians are now questioning the labour agreement and whether enough was done to protect the women.
“These women were promised safety and support,” said one rights advocate. “Instead, they returned with trauma, pain, and broken dreams.”
Their stories show that behind every labour agreement, there are real people — and some of them are now asking whether the government failed to protect them.
Foroyaa is monitoring.
