BBC has published a podcast discussing the situation of women Sierra Leonean domestic workers in Oman and shedding a light on the poor working and living conditions as well as the labour abuses faced them. Hundreds of Sierra Leonean domestic workers have been tricked by recruiters to come to Oman and are trapped and desperate to return home. Yet, many are afraid to return home because they might be arrested at the airport because employers have submitted absconding cases against them.

One woman domestic worker said that she has never chosen to work as domestic worker. When she came to Oman, she thought that she was going to work as a cook as promised by a recruiter in Senegal. However, when she arrived in Oman, she was taken by someone from the recruitment agency who met her at the arrival; her passport was seized and she was driven to house where she was told that it is her sponsor's house. She said that she was forced to work about 18 hours and a half a day with only one hour rest. She further said that the employer did not provide her with good food or accommodation. She was paid less than the agreed salary, and sometimes she was not paid at all.

Another domestic worker said that she thought she was going to work in a restaurant or a supermarket in Oman. However, when she arrived, she was told that she would be a maid. She alleged that the family that she was working for, was treating her in an inhumane way; they did not give anything to eat except for leftover rice. Her employer’s wife hit her every time she did not understand the instructions. In one instance she was deprived of food and water for two days. She further alleged that she was sexually harassed by her employer; he was threatening to kill her if she tells anyone. One day, in the middle of night, the employer told her to get in his car and he took her to the street and left her there, while he kept all her documents with him.

Another domestic worker said that she has been living in hiding since she returned to her country and is unable to visit her family because she been chased by the creditors to return the money she borrowed from them to finance her travel to Oman.