This clip from the BBC’s World Affairs Editor John Simpson shines a light on the harsh conditions faced by migrant workers in Dubai. Behind Dubai’s dazzling facade lies a story of human misery that the government is anxious to keep away from the eyes of the public. Thousands of undocumen…
Archive for the ‘Gulf’ Category
UAE Slaps Lifetime Work Ban on Abused Filipino Worker
January 21st, 2011
Abusive employers Deportation Housemaids Legal cases UAE
An abused Filipino worker who filed a case against her employers for mistreatment has been hit with a lifetime ban on working in the UAE this week on charges of ‘absconding’. Under the sponsorship system migrant workers are unable to walk away from contracts- even if their employer is ...
The Gulf States Become a Graveyard for Nepali Workers
January 13th, 2011
Death Qatar Saudi Arabia Suicide UAE
Over 800 Nepali nationals died in 2010 while working in the Middle East and Malayasia, according to data compiled by Nepali embassies. Accidents in the workplace and suicide appear to have been the most common causes of death. In Saudi Arabia alone, 323 Nepalis lost their lives, while 192 and 84 die...
Filipino Migrant rights Groups Welcome UAE Plans to Ease Sponsorship regulations in 2011
December 19th, 2010
Migrante-Middle East, and its local chapter in the United Arab Emirates today welcome the moved by the UAE government when it plan to ease the implementation of ‘sponsor’ system, which many believe is like a ‘bonded’ labor. Citing local news report, Migrante-UAE Secretary General Nhe...
OFWs ‘Overstaying’ Jail Terms in Saudi
December 17th, 2010
Deportation Gulf Prison Prisoners
By John Leonard Monterona, (Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator) We have been receiving complaints from jailed Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia who claimed they have already completed their jail term. Thus, we would like to get the attention of Department of Foreign Affairs an...
The Unrecognised: The life of migrant workers in Bahrain’s construction industry
December 17th, 2010
Bahrain Gulf Sponsorship Working conditions
Introduction The Middle East has become famous for its images of luxury, associated with its large variety of tall and beautiful buildings. For a foreigner from the West, owning a home in Dubai and Bahrain is synonymous with the epitome of wealth and class. Migrant workers exist in all forms of lif...
The Plight of Maids in Saudi Arabia
December 15th, 2010
Abusive employers Housemaids Rape Saudi Arabia Slavery Working conditions
Daughters and wives from poor Asian farming communities eager to become breadwinners for their families gamble by accepting a housemaid’s job. In desperation young girls barely in their teens falsify their age to meet the minimum age requirement. Recruitment agencies become willful collaborato...
No legal assistance provided to jailed Filipina worker ‘Clarissa’
December 12th, 2010
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -An alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in the Middle East that directly provided assistance to OFW “Clarissa” who has been raped and was jailed due to ‘adultery’ case, today said she was convicted of ‘adultery’ charged against her because there is no legal ass...
Arrested runaway Filipino workers seek assistance for sick children
December 1st, 2010
An alliance of Filipino migrant rights group in Saudi Arabia today said the eight run away mothers who are now staying at police station following the raid on November 24 in Al Khobar are pleading for assistance to their sick children. “We endorsed their request for assistance to the Philippine em...
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