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With the second Ramadan of the pandemic around the corner, we take stock of the ways in which migrants are affected.

The first quarter of 2021 has seen the rollout of vaccination drives, the introduction of new travel protocols, and several reforms to labour migration systems. MR's reporting investigates the impact on both newly recruited and existing migrant workers. Our new section ([link removed]) Letters to MR ([link removed]) ([link removed]) features first-hand accounts from workers across the region.
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In our first webinar, the Migrant-Rights.org team explores what it means to abolish the Kafala system and discusses reforms so far.
Reports
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Shopping for domestic workers in the UAE ([link removed])

Despite Tadbeer, visit visas, unaccountability, high recruitment fees, and the uncertainty of employment leave workers vulnerable.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]التسوق-للعمالة-المنزلية-في-الإمارات/)

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Saudi labour reforms to come into force ([link removed])

A review of the limitations of Saudi’s Kafala reforms

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]ماذا-تعني-إصلاحات-نظام-الكفالة-السعود/)

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Qatar Quarantine Ordeals ([link removed])

Three separate experiences of migrants in Qatar under differing circumstances and at different points in time.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]بلاء-الحجر-الصحي-في-قطر/)

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Qatar Shura Council recommendations threaten to undo reforms ([link removed])

Just six months after Qatar introduced significant reforms providing greater mobility for migrant workers, the Shura Council has pushed back with recommendations that, if accepted, will effectively undo all these reforms.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]توصيات-مجلس-الشورى-القطري-تهدد-بالترا/)

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“Stricter actions against absconding domestic workers”: Proposal in Bahrain’s parliament steeped in falsehoods ([link removed])

If enacted, the proposal will require domestic workers who leave their employers without permission to reimburse their sponsors, pay for their own repatriation costs, and punish those sheltering them with jail and fines.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]إجراءات-أكثر-صرامة-ضد-عاملات-المنازل/)

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Cases on the rise, Ramadan round the corner: Domestic Workers’ plight of urgent concern ([link removed])

As overseas recruitment of domestic workers resumes, existing protection gaps are only becoming larger. Yet, Gulf governments continue to prioritise employers’ rights and neglect those of domestic workers.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]مع-ازدياد-الحالات-ورمضان-على-الأبواب-أ/)

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“Do governments see CSOs as partners or as troublemakers?” ([link removed])

An interview with Mehru Vesuvala, a founding member of Bahrain’s Migrant Workers Protection Society

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]هل-تنظر-الحكومة-إلى-منظمات-المجتمع-ال/)

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My father is not a statistic ([link removed])

The son of a migrant worker writes about the fragility of migration and how the pandemic has affected his family

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]والدي-ليس-رقماً/)

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A de facto NOC in Qatar? ([link removed])

Backlash against reforms and demand for signed resignation letters create hurdles to job mobility

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]واقعاً،-شهادة-عدم-ممانعة-في-قطر؟/)

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Labour Inspections in Bahrain: Inadequate and Inefficient ([link removed])

There are only 12 inspectors to cover close to 760,000 workers (the majority of whom are migrants) and nearly 83,000 establishments. Even at a rate of two inspections a day per inspector, they would be able to make not more than 6,000 inspections in a year.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]التفتيش-العمالي-في-البحرين-غير-كاف-وغي/)

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قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed])
Latest News

Bahrain yet again announces the implementation of WPS ([link removed])
After years of delay, Bahrain announces the implementation of the “Wage Protection System” in three phases starting from 1 May 2021.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]البحرين-تعلن-من-جديد-عن-تطبيق-نظام-حماي/)
Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for workers in certain sectors in Saudi Arabia ([link removed])
Several Saudi ministries have made Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for workers in certain sectors.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]السعودية-تفرض-التطعيم-على-عمال-قطاع-ال/)
Bahrain includes parents, adult children in dependent visas ([link removed])

Bahrain issued a new decision that allows foreign workers to sponsor their adult children and parents if they earn BD1000 monthly. Previously, migrants could only sponsor their spouses, children under the age of 18 & adult children studying in the country

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]البحرين-تضم-الوالدين-والأبناء-البالغ/)
Kuwait issues a new decision to ease job transfer of migrant workers ([link removed])

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower issued a new decision on 3 March 2021 that eases some restrictions on foreign employment transfers in order to address labour shortages

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]الكويت-تصدر-قراراً-جديداً-لتسهيل-التن/)

Kuwait extends grace period for irregular migrants ([link removed])
Kuwait has extended the grace period for migrants with irregular status to regularise their stay or leave Kuwait without being referred to the investigation authorities or be blacklisted from Kuwait, provided that they pay fines. The grace period was originally set to end on 31 January and will now end on 2 March 2021.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]الكويت-تمدد-فترة-السماح-للمهاجرين-غير/)

Oman raises work-permit fees for migrants and bans them from several occupations in the private sector ([link removed])
Oman’s Labour Ministry has raised the fees for issuing and renewing work permits for migrants in mid to high-level positions, and issued two ministerial orders barring migrants from several professions.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]عمان-ترفع-رسوم-تصريح-العمل-للمهاجرين-و/)

Kuwait to resume recruitment of domestic workers on 17 January ([link removed])
Kuwait announced that it will resume the recruitment of domestic workers from abroad starting from 17 January, after a hiatus of more than 10 months due to Covid-19 pandemic.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed])


Bahrain’s parliament passes a bill to restrict labour mobility for migrants ([link removed])
Bahrain’s parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that would require migrants to work for three years with their current sponsor before they can transfer to another sponsor.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]مجلس-النواب-البحريني-يقر-مشروعاً-لتقي/)


Saudi launches electronic complaint service on Musaned ([link removed])
The e-complaint service concerns disputes between sponsors and recruitment agencies, not domestic workers

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]السعودية-تطلق-خدمات-الشكاوى-الالكترو/)

Oman extends grace period for migrants to leave or regularize their status ([link removed])
Oman’s Ministry of Labour announced that it will extend the grace period for employers to correct the work status of their expatriate employees without paying fines until 21 January.

قراءة باللغة العربية ([link removed]عمان-تمدد-فترة-السماح-لغادرة-المهاجري/)
Migrant-Rights.org ([link removed]) is closely monitoring Covid-19 developments and updating our coverage regularly. Follow us on Twitter @MigrantRights ([link removed]) for our latest news and commentary.

New! Follow us on Instagram @MigrantRights. ([link removed])

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