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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 Letters to MR features first-hand accounts from workers across the region. 
In our first webinar, the Migrant-Rights.org team explores what it means to abolish the Kafala system and discusses reforms so far. 
Reports

Shopping for domestic workers in the UAE

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

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Saudi labour reforms to come into force

A review of the limitations of Saudi’s Kafala reforms

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Qatar Quarantine Ordeals

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

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Qatar Shura Council recommendations threaten to undo reforms

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.

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“Stricter actions against absconding domestic workers”: Proposal in Bahrain’s parliament steeped in falsehoods

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.

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Cases on the rise, Ramadan round the corner: Domestic Workers’ plight of urgent concern

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.

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“Do governments see CSOs as partners or as troublemakers?”

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

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My father is not a statistic

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

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A de facto NOC in Qatar?

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

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Labour Inspections in Bahrain: Inadequate and Inefficient

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.

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Latest News

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

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Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for workers in certain sectors in Saudi Arabia
Several Saudi ministries have made Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for workers in certain sectors.

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Bahrain includes parents, adult children in dependent visas

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

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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

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Kuwait extends grace period for irregular migrants
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.

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Oman raises work-permit fees for migrants and bans them from several occupations in the private sector
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.

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Kuwait to resume recruitment of domestic workers on 17 January
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.

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Bahrain’s parliament passes a bill to restrict labour mobility for migrants 
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.

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Saudi launches electronic complaint service on Musaned
The e-complaint service concerns disputes between sponsors and recruitment agencies, not domestic workers

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Oman extends grace period for migrants to leave or regularize their status
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.

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Migrant-Rights.org is closely monitoring Covid-19 developments and updating our coverage regularly. Follow us on Twitter @MigrantRights for our latest news and commentary.

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