For the past 28 years, Mrs Bala, now in her 70s, has been helping Bahrain’s migrant labourers, most of whom come from the Indian subcontinent, in any way she can.
A practising lawyer, she has helped solve scores of labour disputes, talked dozens out of suicide, clothed and fed hundreds of workers too poor to buy […]
By BARBARA SURK for the Associated Press.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Foreign housemaids in the oil-rich Gulf sometimes work 21-hour days without medical care, enough food, or the right to go home, and they also face violence and harassment, a human rights report said Wednesday.
Dubai’s government, shaken by a rash of recent labor protests, […]
Nadim Houry writes on the Daily Star Lebanon:
Over a month ago, a French documentary, “Liban, Pays des Esclaves,” harshly criticized Lebanese society and the authorities for their treatment of migrant domestic workers. But instead of being outraged by the behavior of their fellow citizens, many Lebanese expressed outrage against the filmmaker who dared to sully […]
Business Standard features a Q&A session with overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, who discusses the recent uprising by Indian workers in Dubai:
For the first time after the attack on Kuwait, things are getting worse for Indian workers in the Gulf. How worried are you about this?
Just a few days ago, Dubai saw a major […]
Featured on LA Times’ “Babylon and Beyond”:
Human rights advocates have shined a spotlight on the plight of maids from South Asia imported to the Middle East. The nonprofit group Human Rights Watch has accused the Lebanese and other governments in the Middle East of failing to curb serious abuses against Sri Lankan domestic workers.
New-York-based HRW […]
The Financial Times reports:
The governments of the Gulf are failing to curb the abuse of domestic workers, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.
The pressure group called on states such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to widen existing labour regulations to cover maids, most of whom come from India, Sri Lanka and […]
“I still cannot believe that I am out of this ordeal that I have undergone for the past 10 years,” said Anista Marie, 40, who since 1999 hasn’t received her salary. Marie called up Arab News a little over 3 weeks ago saying she has been imprisoned and abused in the home of her sponsor […]
Campaign to ensure implementation of break rule in Bahrain launched
By Suad Hamada, Special to Gulf News
Manama: A massive labour inspection campaign started yesterday to ensure implementation of the ban on construction and other outdoor work between noon and 4pm, labour official said.
The Director of Public and International Relations at the Ministry of Labour Subah Al […]
Runaway suffers miscarriage at shelter
A distressed Filipina worker at the Philippine embassy shelter shocked officials on Thursday evening when she miscarried.
Fellow inmates first thought the worker, a woman in thirties, was bleeding because of some illness till they realised that she had a miscarriage. A doctor and paramedics were called to help the woman. The […]