Donate
Migrant-Rights.org is entirely supported by non-governmental backers and the general public. Your donations pay for Migrant-Rights projects, staffing, research, resources, servers and protective infrastructure.
The kafala system disempowers migrant workers and enables abuse. Are you able to overcome the common problems faced by migrants, using the limited tools at their disposal? Take a journey in the footsteps of a migrant worker.
Saudi, Bangaldesh and others elected to ILO Governing body
News that Saudi Arabia had joined the International Labour Organisation (ILO) governing body shocked many observers last week, drawing many ...
Read MoreThe UAE’s Federal National Council passed the latest draft law on domestic workers last week. It now requires final approval from President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. If enforced, the law would offer the most progressive regulations for domestic workers in the region.
Read More
Qatar released new statistics concerning its Expat Grievances Committee this week. Expats whose travel requests are denied by their employer must appeal to the committee in order to leave the country. Over 761 appeals were received between December 13 and February 15, 213 of which were rejected, 485 approved, and the remaining in consideration.
Read MoreKuwait’s Ministry of Interior Affairs announced that at least 29,000 expats were deported in 2016 – about 80 persons a day. This is a meaningful increase from the 25,000 deported in 2015. A Ministry official cast these statistics in a positive light, claiming that they “show undoubtedly that we have made deportation processes much faster.”
Read More.In the wake of low oil prices and large budget defects, Saudi joins other Gulf countries in considering taxes on expat remittances. The most recent proposal suggests a 6% tax on remittances for the first year of an expat’s residency, and 2% for the five years following.
Read MoreExpatriates in Kuwait will not be allowed into Kuwait’s airports, except for traveling. The MOI says expats are causing a congestion.
read moreA recent decision by Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior will exempt sponsors from paying return airfare for domestic workers reported as absconding (‘runaways’), or who have any other criminal charges against them. The decision also increases punishments for individuals who hire or shelter ‘absconded’ workers, and will force these employers to pay for return tickets.
Read moreExpatriate teachers in Kuwait are protesting a decision to cut their benefits, while construction workers are protesting the failure to investigate a death on a worksite. Another group of Bangladeshi workers are protesting in front of their embassy, demanding the residency permits that their sponsoring company failed to provide them.
Read More