Your reaction: Saudi worker 'abuse'

Foreigners work in many Saudi industries, from oil to health

A human rights group has criticised Saudi Arabia's justice system for failing protect foreign workers from being abused by their employers.

The report, by the New-York based group Human Rights watch, says the system does not safeguard workers' rights and reports a catalogue of abuses ranging from torture to forced confessions and unfair trials when workers are accused of crimes.

Dozens of people have emailed BBC News Online on the issue, here follows a selection of the comments received.

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Yes I am a worker here and I am treated fine. You live in their country and what else do you expect than to abide by their laws and respect their culture?
Aflah Ameer, Riyadh, Saudi

My father worked in Saudi Arabia for over over 24 years. He went there when I was born, to work... and later moved on to work for a leading electric company. My father, an Indian citizen was underpaid, even though he was more qualified than his co-American and British workers. Life is Saudi Arabia for my father was not easy, although very well educated, he was often classified as a low-class worker simply because he was Indian. My father is now retired, and is happy to be home!
Maria Frank, New York, USA

I am not employed in Saudi but my relative who is about 45 went to Saudi 12 years ago and has not returned to India even once. We sometimes get a call from him (once in a year) and he says he is OK and has some salary withheld (no proper information) and he is fighting to get it back and once he gets it he will return for good. He left his 2 year old son and not seen him for a decade. I tried calling him but in vain.
Babu, USA/India

I am sure there are abuses in the police and prison system here in Saudi Arabia David N Campbell, Saudi Arabia - resident in Bergen, Germany Saudi system 'abuses foreigners'

I am a registered nurse and, although I have never worked in Saudi, I know many nurses from the Philippines who have worked in Saudi hospitals and they all tell the same story of being exploited because they were paid significantly less than their UK, Australian and New Zealand fellow nurses.
Peter Kimble, Hamilton, New Zealand

I feel that the analysis is flawed. Lets look at the "foreign" workers who are abused and their home country. They are usually from poor countries where corruption is rampant. Their own governments are too toothless to do anything to protect their citizens. Have you ever heard of an American or Briton being tortured in Saudi Arabia? If they try to do that, White House or Number 10 would be personally involved. But the governments of South Asian countries do not even raise their voice about the abuse.
Stephen, USA

I worked in Saudi Arabia for six years during the 1980s. Basically, you go as a guest of the country to earn money and you do not abuse (or, at least, you make sure that you are not seen to be abusing) your hosts' hospitality. There are cases where foreign workers are abused by their employers but foreign workers are fully protected under the law - unfortunately, and this applies throughout the world, the rich and famous will inevitably escape prosecution and censure. How many Peers of the Realm, or even mere Lords of the Manor, were prosecuted for raping their housemaids a hundred years ago in the UK? Perhaps the authors of the report should bear in mind that they are living in a glass house before they start throwing stones.
Tony Harvey, Chelmsford, UK

I worked in Saudi Arabia for seven years in a British (later bought by US farm) company. There were no Saudi personnel in the company. Even then the company was abusing people from Asia. Despite having the same position and responsibility in the company, the Asians were paid two to three times less than the British/Americans.
Anwar Kabir, USA

I have worked in Saudi Arabia since August 1994 and have always been treated fairly by members of the Saudi Police Force whenever I have been in contact with them. The legal system of Saudi Arabia is, we are told, based on Sharia Law, which has served them for many hundreds of years and in which they believe that the punishment fits the crime. All visiting workers are very quickly made aware of the severity of the punishments, and the fact that we are all subject to the law of the land in which we work. I am sure there are abuses in the police and prison system here in Saudi Arabia, however as incidents of this nature occur throughout the world I wonder at the so-called impartiality that allows articles of this nature to be circulated around the world.
David N Campbell, Yanbu al-Sinaiyah, Saudi Arabia - resident in Bergen, Germany

I have a cousin who went from Pakistan to work in Medina for a hotel owner. They took away his passport, paid him peanuts for long hours that eventually he had to "steal" his passport to go back home. Corruption and greed is rife amongst Saudis and there is a high level of non-Arab racism.
Tariq, Bradford, England

I often visited Saudi Arabia on business, the Middle Eastern kind of hospitality is marvellous. However, the Saudi system discriminates against all foreigners including Americans and Western Europeans. There are many levels and shades, but what is the worse is the way they discriminate against women and their fellow Muslims from impoverished nations. Amongst others, the Nepalese, working in road building, are probably treated the worse, which is sad in this day and age.
Juan Soca, United Kingdom

I spent five years working for one of the global "Big Four" professional firms operating in the Saudi capital. I could never reconcile to the fact that even the largest multinational/Western companies followed the multi-tier Saudi system of paying top wages to Saudis/Western nationals, next best to other Arabs, and about 50-60% less to the rest of the workers who are officially called TCNs (Third-Country Nationals) in Saudi Arabia.
Javaid Khan, Toronto, Canada

This is not far from the truth. I have an aunt who was recruited by a German clothing manufacturer she previously worked for in Kenya. While there she would call and tell me harrowing stories of how badly the foreign women who worked there were treated. When she tried to leave before the end of her contract, even as a manager, they took most of her earnings from the two years she was there and at one point threatened to get he into trouble with the police. Her experience was traumatising, she does not even like to talk about anymore.
Jean Mwasi, Kenya