Comments for Migrant Rights

Comment on All Eyes on Rizana Nafeek by Update on Rizana Nafeek

Update on Rizana Nafeek — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:49:59 +0000

[...] Rizana Nafeek is a Sri Lankan woman on death row in Saudi Arabia. She was convicted of murdering her employer’s four-year-old child in 2005, but has consistently maintained that the child choked to death. As with many migrant workers, she received little help from her own government during her trial. It was not until after her death sentence that the Sri Lankan government intervened in her case, evoking criticism from several groups. And as in many cases, the government’s actions were too slow and too ineffective; while the recruitors who forged documents to bring Nafeek into Saudi Arabia as a minor have been jailed, little else has progressed in Nafeek’s case since our last report. [...]

Comment on Lebanese Minister of Labor promises to abolish sponsorship “kafala” system by Profusion of domestic worker suicides – in just one week

Profusion of domestic worker suicides – in just one week — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:29:16 +0000

[...] Saudi has promised more protections for its workers, and Lebanon’s minister announced the Kafala system’s forthcoming abolishment. Whether these agreements affect the lives of domestic workers and mitigate the conditions that [...]

Comment on UN urges Lebanon to Protect Domestic Workers by Profusion of domestic worker suicides – in just one week

Profusion of domestic worker suicides – in just one week — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:29:01 +0000

[...] Ethiopian deaths in Lebanon as the country possesses a large Ethiopian population, as well as a dismal record of migrant rights. Both cases involved a Lebanese domestic worker hanging herself in an employer’s home – [...]

Comment on Migrants in Israel receive less than a warm welcome by Israel to deport 7,000 Sudanese migrants

Israel to deport 7,000 Sudanese migrants — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:17:24 +0000

[...] has long claimed that the majority of African asylum seekers are economic migrants who, especially because of their often illegal status, can be forcibly and justly repatriated. The [...]

Comment on Lebanon: Nepali suicide last Sunday in Ashrafieh by Lebanon: Presumed suicide of an Ethiopian domesic worker today

Lebanon: Presumed suicide of an Ethiopian domesic worker today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:54:31 +0000

[...] Jounieh police is investigating. No additional information was given. This case is one of many recent cases of deaths or suicides of domestic workers in [...]

Comment on Lebanon: Nepali suicide last Sunday in Ashrafieh by Lebanon: Nepali suicide last Sunday in Ashrafieh « Hummus For Thought

Lebanon: Nepali suicide last Sunday in Ashrafieh « Hummus For Thought — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:33:47 +0000

[...] Migrant-Rights.org Lebanese news website Elnashra.com reported last Sunday evening that, according to Lebanese [...]

Comment on Sri Lankan Housemaids in Saudi Arabia Plead to be Returned Home by Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media

Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:36:36 +0000

[...] The author does admit that both the rights of maids and Saudi employers are violated by employment agency tactics. There is certainly truth to this statement, as agencies are notorious for their largely unregulated behavior. Saudi employers do have the right to be upset when they are swindled out of their own money. However, the suggestion of a large-scale conspiracy between migrant workers and these agencies is unbelievable and dangerous; the notion that the average maid would want to abscond from steady employment in a non-abusive household to return home, after the extraordinarily arduous process of immigration, where the prospect of employment is significantly lower – all for for a one time-sum, is difficult to fathom. The author also recounts the story of a friend whose maid absconded, but was later found working in the employment agency’s office. Certainly possible in one instance – but absolutely implausible as the systematic practice the author suggests. Similarly, the author’s other notion that thieving migrants abscond after their three month commitment only to obtain new passports and work permits to continue bamboozling Suadis nationwide is preposterous given that the legitimate documentation process is difficult enough, not to mention the severe penalties illegal migrants, as well as absconding migrants, face. [...]

Comment on Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media by Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media | Stones Music

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:07:52 +0000

[...] Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media … seems to victimize employers – Saudis – alone, even suggesting that much of Saudi's own reputation for human rights violations against migrants is fabricated, a ploy orchestrated by the agencies and the maids they use to execute their “dirty work. Read more on Migrant Rights [...]

Comment on PH govt. performs poorly in combating illegal recruitment activities; average of 10 victims daily by Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media

Reversing the blame in Saudi: another case of irresponsible media — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:10:02 +0000

[...] agency tactics. There is certainly truth to this statement, as agencies are notorious for their largely unregulated behavior. Saudi employers do have the right to be upset when they are swindled out of their own money. [...]