In a flight with kadamas
By Correspondent
A few minutes ago, I was beeped by a call from code 966 (Saudi Arabia). Puzzled, I debated whether to return the call or not. My conscience weighed down on me and I succumbed.
As it turned out, it was from a girl I met on a flight on her way to Maid’s work in Saudi Arabia.
On March 3, 2020 I boarded Ethiopian Airlines to Addis where I was scheduled to attend the Aviation Africa 2020 conference. 90 percent of the passengers on the flight were young girls destined for labour in the Arab world.
I was sandwiched between two such passengers in the economy cabin. One of them had occupied seat 16A, the window seat I had reserved earlier and been allocated but I decided that the view would mean to her than me who has accumulated thousands of flying hours. They were first time flyers who nervously wailed at every manouvre the aircraft made as it climbed out of Entebbe International Airport, banking left.
I turned into an on-board counselor, telling them about how aircraft work and before long we were in the cruise and they were comfortable. I prepared them for the landing phase and I think they were the only ones that did not yell out in alarm as we made final descent into Bole.
At this point, one of them was pensive, softly reflecting on the fact that it would be another two years before she gets to see the eight month old daughter she had left in the care of an auntie.
Concerned about the horror stories I had read about what has happened to many people who venture into external labour, I gave my business card to each of them, telling them to beep me, in case they got into any kind of distress.
The good news is that the call I got was not about a fortuitous experience. She was doing well and was hoping to buy her own phone soon. She was recruited by some trust worth labour company.
After reading the series of the experiences of the undercover reporter in Dubai, I was relieved to learn that there were still agencies that do a good job.
Unlike Middle East Consultants, which conned and mistreated thousands of immigrant workers.