Agency faces ban over 'maid abuse'

A manpower agency could be blacklisted after it failed to report the case of a housemaid who ended up in hospital after jumping from a second-floor building in Riffa.

The Sri Lankan suffered leg, hip and spinal injuries as she tried to escape from her sponsor, who allegedly told her to strip naked and take a bath in front of some plumbers.

Thushari Palkaherath, 27, filed a complaint at Hamad Town Police Station alleging mistreatment last month.

Sri Lankan honorary consul-general P B Higgoda said he was unaware of the case until police advised him the woman was in hospital.

"I visited her at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) to see her condition and ask what happened," he said.

"She told me she had worked for the family for 18 months and everything had been okay.

"She claimed she jumped when her sponsor's son brought three plumbers in the house to fix drainage system in the bathrooms.

"Her female sponsor asked her to strip and take a bath and took the key of the bathroom to keep the doors open.

"I don't know how true this is, but this is what she told the police as well."

Ms Palkaherath reportedly jumped from the bathroom window onto a compound wall and fell in the neighbour's property.

Police were called and she was taken to SMC for treatment.

Mr Higgoda said the maid appeared to be suffering from depression.

"Ms Palkaherath belongs to a poor family and fears no one would care if something happens to her," he said.

"She is unmarried and the only breadwinner for the family."

Ms Palkaherath came to Bahrain in 2009 and was hired by the Bahraini sponsor.

Mr Higgoda said steps were underway to blacklist the agency which brought the maid here for failing to register her as working in Bahrain.

"They were working on the case secretly, without reporting it to us," he said.

"We will not allow them to recruit Sri Lankans anymore."

Officials from the Gudaibiya-based manpower agency confirmed the case and said staff had visited the maid in hospital.

However, they denied any wrongdoing and said they would fight any attempts to blacklist the company.

Interior Ministry officials confirmed a complaint had been filed, but were unable to give further details.

Ms Palkaherath was deemed fit enough to travel and was repatriated to Sri Lanka earlier this month after her sponsor agreed to provide her air ticket and her final month's salary.

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