ETHIOPIAN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THE UAE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 002600

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR G/TIP, INL, DRL, NEA/RA AND NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PHUM SOCI KCRM ET AE SY
SUBJECT: ETHIOPIAN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN THE UAE


1.(U) Summary: The Deputy Consul General of Ethiopia in Dubai
told Poleconoff April 17 that there are some 30,000 Ethiopians
in the UAE, 75 percent of whom work as domestic servants. Many
Ethiopians flee from their employers and work illegally in other
households or work as prostitutes. He characterized the
recruitment of Ethiopian domestic servants as trafficking. He
has also heard rumors of Ethiopian women being trafficked to
Syria. End Summary.


Most Ethiopians Work as Domestic Servants
--------------


2. (U) Tesfay Desalegne, Ethiopia's Deputy Consul General in
Dubai, told Poleconoff April 17 that the Ethiopian population in
the UAE is estimated to be near 30,000, with the majority living
in Dubai. 75 percent, or roughly 22,500 of the Ethiopians in the
UAE, work as domestic servants. Most of the Ethiopians are women
recruited to work in Emirati households, rather than for expats.
Young Ethiopian women vie to work in Dubai because they believe
they will be able to earn large salaries, but many are
disappointed when they experience the realities of their jobs.
Some seek assistance from the Ethiopian Consulate, while others
run away from their sponsor to seek new jobs. "Thousands" of
runaway domestics had sought assistance from the Consulate since
it opened in 2004. The most common complaints were harsh working
conditions, non-payment of wages, and physical or sexual abuse.


Ethiopian Domestics Not Protected By the Law
--------------


3. (SBU) Desalegne spoke of cases in which Emirati sponsors had
avoided paying a domestic worker by canceling the visa without
notice or reporting them as an absconder. Once her visa has
been canceled, the employee must return to Ethiopia immediately
without any legal recourse. The Consulate can do little for
such individuals. Desalegne calls the system unfair, saying
Emirati sponsors are "never" held accountable in such cases.


Choices for Absconding Domestics
--------------


4. (SBU) Desalegne said that most of the women who fled from
their sponsors remained in Dubai to seek new employment in the
"black market." Many seek work as domestics for Europeans in the
Jumeirah area. Although they are vulnerable because they are
"absconders," many find the pay and working conditions with
American or European families are far better than with the
sponsoring Emirati families. In these situations, the benefits
of working illegally far outweigh the risks of being arrested
and deported.


Prostitution - An Alternative
--------------


5. (SBU) Some runaway Ethiopian domestic workers turn to
prostitution. Desalegne believes that there may be up to 1000
Ethiopians working as prostitutes in Dubai. He believes that
most of the women who turn to prostitution are runaway domestics
who are "lured" into it by other Ethiopian women who also were
former domestic workers. Aside from the large amounts of money
they can earn, Desalegne said that some of the women think that
working as a prostitute is "thrilling" and offers "excitement."
Large numbers of Ethiopian prostitutes can be found at some of
dance clubs at hotels in Dubai. The women Desalegne has spoken
with view prostitution as a temporary job, which they will leave
behind when they return to Ethiopia. Desalegne did not believe
that Ethiopian women were trafficked to the UAE for the sex
industry, nor did he know of any cases where Ethiopian women
were working in the sex industry against their will.


Trafficking Ethiopians to the UAE
--------------


6. (SBU) On the other hand, Desalegne characterized much of the
recruitment of Ethiopian domestic workers as trafficking.
Although Ethiopians come to the UAE voluntarily, the Vice Consul
General said, many were deceived by unscrupulous employment
agents in Ethiopia, while others were convinced to come to the
UAE on visit visas only to find that the promised job was

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non-existent.



7. (SBU) Many Ethiopians travel via circuitous routes to Dubai,
generally via Nairobi, Kenya or Yemen, because Ethiopians
traveling to Dubai on Ethiopian Airways are normally required to
show proof of employment or other evidence proving legitimate
travel. Ethiopians traveling to Dubai on visit visas -- many of
whom are actually going to look for work or to start a promised
job -- are not permitted on Ethiopian's direct flight, so they
travel by other routes that are less well policed.


Trafficking From the UAE
--------------


8. (SBU) Desalegne said it is rumored in the community that some
Ethiopian women are trafficked to Syria from the UAE. His
understanding is that workers who have absconded or are unhappy
in their current jobs are identified and then approached by
other Ethiopians who promise them better jobs elsewhere. Those
who accept are taken to Al Ain and then taken to Syria. Deslegne
added that he has no concrete evidence of trafficking to Syria,
but said it is widely rumored among Ethiopians.


Limited Resources
--------------


9. (U) According to Desalegne, the Ethiopian Consulate has
limited resources and is unable to provide much assistance to
abused or runaway domestic workers. The Consulate does not run a
shelter, nor does it purchase repatriation tickets. The
Consulate turns to the Ethiopian Community Association (ECA) for
assistance. Generally, the ECA members will provide temporary
housing and raise money for repatriation. In return, the
Consulate supports ECA fundraising events.
DAVIS