A study on housemaids conducted by the Saudi Ministry of Social Welfare has shown they suffer more from physical violence than sexual harassment.

The study, which the ministry compiled in a book titled Family Violence, pointed out that other groups in society, such as wives and children, generally only suffer from negligence and scolding.

Awad Al Radadi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, said the team assigned by the ministry had conducted an extensive field study indicating that family violence in Saudi society was very limited.

Al Radai said: "Had not the media highlighted its existence we would not have given it great attention. Because it is still very limited and insignificant in our society."

The study indicated physical violence cases only came to light when they were reported to the security authorities. This also indicated victims approached the protection sections at advanced stages of abuse.

It also said violence against housewives remained hidden unless they fled to their families' houses. The study urged parties who deal with family violence cases to be more transparent in revealing such cases.

It also suggests admonishing those who deal leniently with this kind of violation, such as doctors and teachers. The study recommended the importance of social awareness campaigns to enlighten parents on ways of controlling themselves when dealing with their children. It also called upon educational and religious institutions to fulfil their obligations properly.

It stressed the importance of setting up family counselling sections to help solve family problems as well as creating foster families to give refuge to girls suffering from family violence.

It also underlined the importance of introducing a new subject in schools to teach students the philosophy of self-restraint.

In reaction to this King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has ordered the Ministry of Justice to set up family courts to look into abuse cases.

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'Spoilt children expect maids to serve them'

A Saudi minister has said he finds it revolting to see spoilt children waited on hand and foot by Asian maids, whose main role is often that of a status symbol.

Labour Minister Gazi Algosaibi said the kingdom had become too dependent on foreign maids, mainly from Asia, but did not say if entry visas for them would be curbed.

"In this society, the healthy teenager needs a maid to bring him a glass of water that is exactly 10 metres away. This is yet another revolting sight!" Algosaibi said in an interview published in the Al Eqtisadiah newspaper yesterday.

"It really causes me a great deal of depression," he said.

"You hear in this society the little girl talking about 'her Filipina' or 'her Indonesian' [maid], and this girl is barely four years old."

Reuters