A Kuwaiti Instagram star and beauty blogger has faced a severe backlash after saying that her 'servants' shouldn't be allowed to keep their own passports or have days off.
Sondos Alqattan, who has 2.3 million followers on Instagram, shared a video in which she ripped into new laws which mean Filipino workers are allowed one day off a week.
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In the clip, she says: "One has no clue what happens during those four days when her passport is in her possession."
She went on to add: "These contracts are a mere comedy. How can you have a servant at home who keeps their own passport with them? What's worse is they have one day off every week."
Before saying: "If they run away and go back to their country, who will refund me? Honestly I disagree with this law. I don't want a Filipino maid anymore."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, her video went viral and she has come in for some harsh criticism since her comments - however, it's not just people on social media who have taken umbrage with what she said. A number of major beauty brands have since pulled their sponsorship with Alqattan, Gulf News reports.
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Max Factor has said it will 'suspend all work' with the blogger, telling the news outlet: "Max Factor Arabia was shocked by the comments made... regarding the new labour law in Kuwait.
"Max Factor Arabia is taking this incident very seriously and have immediately suspended all collaborations with Sondos."
French brand M. Micallef and British-based Chelsea Beautique have also both parted ways with the blogger, with a spokesperson from M. Micallef telling the news outlet: "We are absolutely shocked by the behaviour of Sondos Alqattan, and we deeply regret the relationship with her, which we are terminating with immediate effect."
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Now people are calling for other brands to follow suit.
Migrante International, which works to support the rights of Filipino workers who are employed overseas, have also demanded Alqattan apologises - saying her comments are similar to those of a 'slave owner' and that her opinions indicate 'a backward outlook which literally belongs to the dark ages'.
Following the backlash, Alqattan has deleted the video and shared a long post in which she asks that people 'don't judge a person without a full understanding of the situation'.
In the post she writes: "I have not, on any circumstances in the present or the past, have mistreated, degrades or in any way mistreated an employee of mine."
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Adding that she sees her employees as 'equal human being with equal rights' to hers, before saying she doesn't expect her staff to work long hours.
Topics: Viral, World News