Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Mohammed Al-Afasi announced this week the government’s intention to set a minimum wage for expatriate workers. In addition, Al-Afasi said that his ministry is in the process of creating an independent labor …
Posted in Kuwait, Legislation, Sponsorship | 3 CommentsMigrant workers in Kuwait are not allowed to form labor unions or work syndicates, while Kuwaiti employers were granted this right in the emirate’s new labor law. Much criticism has been leveled against Kuwait’s new labor law, which was passed …
Posted in Kuwait, Legislation, Workers | 1 CommentAfter spending another year documenting abuses of migrant workers in the Middle East, it’s time that we look back at the most significant, influential and important stories that we’ve covered. 1. Death of Domestic Migrant Workers in Lebanon This story …
Posted in Bahrain, Housemaids, Kuwait, Lebanon, Legislation, MR Site, Sponsorship, Suicide, UAE, Working conditions | 7 CommentsHuman Rights Watch (HRW) published last week a summary of the reports and research they’ve conducted over the last year on migrant rights. The end-year report highlighted the lack of protection of migrant workers in many Middle Eastern countries. In …
Posted in Egypt, Housemaids, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Legislation, Saudi Arabia, Sponsorship, Suicide, UAE | 2 CommentsThe following is a listing solutions and measures meant to secure the fundamental rights of female migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. These proposals have been collected in reports, studies and press releases from Human Right Watch, the International Labour Organization …
Posted in Housemaids, Lebanon, Legislation, Sponsorship | 3 CommentsKuwait’s parliament is expected to vote this week on a new labor law for the private sector. The draft of the law significantly increases the rights of most migrant workers in Kuwait. It included limiting the working hours of workers …
Posted in Kuwait, Legislation, Sponsorship | 2 CommentsOn December 1st, Ziad Baroud, Lebanon’s Minister of Interior, informed the ambassadors of Philippine, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka that his ministry will be taking steps towards the protection of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Such steps include moving the General …
Posted in Housemaids, Lebanon, Legislation, Prison | Leave a commentAl-Akhbar newspaper published today a front page article on the suicide cases in the past 6 weeks. It raises questions as to the speed with which the Lebanese investigators conclude that the death was due to suicide of the migrant …
Posted in Housemaids, Lebanon, Legislation, Suicide, Working conditions | Leave a commentIt seems that the pronouncements about “abolishing” the sponsorship (kafala) system in Bahrain were premature. At best, the changing of Bahrain’s labor laws can be described as a easing of the rules. The changes to Bahrain’s Labour Market Regulatory Law, …
Posted in Bahrain, Legislation, Sponsorship | 7 Comments