November 24, 2014

Migrant worker rights discussed at Asia/Gulf conference

editor:	Vanessa Ellingham

Later this week labour ministers from Gulf and Asian countries will meet to discuss labour law protection and immigration policies across the region.

An estimated 2.4 million migrants are currently performing domestic work in the Gulf, along with millions more African and Asian contract workers.

The region is known for its poor treatment of migrant workers, particularly the kafala system which prevents migrant labourers from being able to accept a new job without the permission of their current employer.

Asian workers in the Gulf have, in the past, reported passport confiscations, unpaid wages, and sometimes physical abuse or forced labour.

This third round of the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, held in Kuwait this Wednesday and Thursday, will be a good opportunity for ministers to meet with trade unions and human rights organisations to cooperate on better labour pretection and adherence to human rights.

Qatar, which was awarded the hosting of the 2022 Football World Cup, has been harshly criticised for its treatment of migrant workers employed to build the infrastructure for the massive event. Some estimate that thousands of workers have already died during the construction process.