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“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
As we share our last reports of 2023, we recognize that the situation of migrants in the Gulf cannot be siloed from global human rights struggles. We firmly believe that all human rights are deeply interconnected, and that just, equitable societies demand dignity and protection for all people.
Upholding these rights requires solidarity across communities and in this spirit, we reaffirm our unequivocal solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The ongoing genocide in Gaza and gross injustices throughout Palestine are sobering reminders of the fragility of human rights progress everywhere. |
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Our new Know Your Rights leaflets are downloadable booklets that provide an overview of workers rights under the labour and domestic workers laws in each of the Gulf states. Additional languages to be added soon. |
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Stories of Origin Series:
Sierra Leone |
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The trafficking of Sierra Leoneans to the Gulf, mostly women, and mostly as domestic workers, is on the rise. The post-war generation is especially vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Women recount their experiences with emotional manipulation and the collusion between traffickers and officials.
قراءة باللغة العربية |
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Women who returned from gruesome migrations share their stories to raise awareness about the realities of working in the region. Survivors like Lucy are leading community initiatives to support returnees with therapy and skills training, as well as sustainable income opportunities to prevent other women from falling prey to trafficking. قراءة باللغة العربية |
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Updated Legal Comparisons |
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Comparison of End-of-Service Benefits For Domestic Workers In The Gulf
This policy note reviews end-of-service benefits and with annual leaves for domestic workers in each of the Gulf countries. While these workers are generally entitled to fewer benefits than their counterparts in the private sector, they are nonetheless guaranteed a gratuity at the end of their service in every country except for Oman and the UAE.
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Latest Stories: |
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Also in Bahrain: Bahrain has expanded its “Labour Registration Program” to include all irregular workers. Previously, only workers who became irregular before the program’s introduction on 27 October 2022 were eligible to apply. Workers in the country continue to face steep barriers to accessing justice, despite recent reforms at tackling wage theft. In a recent case, an Indian worker was arrested for damaging vehicles of the construction company that employed him, in protest against 10 months of unpaid wages.
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| An overview of Saudi’s new Domestic Workers Law
The law, which comes into force in September 2024, provides better protections but lacks enforcement mechanisms. Key reforms include an explicit ban on passport confiscation, the establishment of maximum working hours, and the introduction of occupational safety and health regulations for the first time. It still does not address minimum wage.
قراءة باللغة العربية |
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Also in Saudi: Saudi’s new process for transferring domestic workers’ sponsorship is rife with problems, with key issues including high transfer costs and lack of clarity on domestic workers’ consent to the process.
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| Oman’s New Labour Law: A Review
On 25 July 2023, Oman announced a new labour law for workers in the private sector (Royal Decree No.53 of 2023), introducing new regulations on labour strikes, permission for migrant workers involved in labour disputes to remain in the country, and other significant changes. The new law follows a series of reforms made this year, including a new social security law and the rollout of a mandatory Health Insurance Scheme.
قراءة باللغة العربية |
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Also in Oman: Oman’s Ministry of Labour recently issued a new Wage Protection System (WPS) directive for private sector workers. All private sector workers must be registered under the WPS by the 9th of March 2024.
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Guest Articles: |
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Also in the UAE: The UAE’s registration deadline for its private mandatory unemployment insurance scheme officially closed on 1 October 2023. Workers who did not register by this date will face a fine of AED 400 (US$ 109). New workers who join the UAE’s labour force have four months to subscribe to the unemployment insurance scheme before incurring fines.
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