HRW Sounds Alarm on Gulf Migrant Worker Safety
HRW warns Gulf migrant workers face rising risks from regional conflicts.
Why it matters: Migrant workers are vital to Gulf economies, with risk to their safety threatening economic stability.
- HRW highlights increased threats to Gulf migrant workers due to Middle East conflict.
- Migrant workers constitute 80-90% of the workforce in some Gulf nations, like the UAE.
- HRW urges measures to protect workers' income and facilitate safe returns.
- Reported incidents involve fatalities, underscoring the risks faced by workers.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a stark warning about the increasing threats facing migrant workers in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations amidst ongoing regional conflicts. Given that migrant workers make up a significant portion of the workforce, particularly in countries like the UAE where they account for 80-90% of the labor force, ensuring their safety is critical to maintaining economic stability.
According to Michael Page, HRW's deputy Middle East and North Africa director, immediate actions are needed to protect these workers. HRW recommends that Gulf states implement emergency measures to prevent income loss and offer compensatory support while ensuring safe repatriation options. These actions are crucial as the workers, primarily from South Asia, face not only economic hardships but also security threats, including food insecurity and rising costs.
Interviews by HRW with 38 workers across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reveal a dire situation of declining earnings and heightened security concerns. HRW called upon Gulf states to adhere to their obligations under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers.
Notable incidents, like the cases of Saleh Ahmed, a Bangladeshi worker who died from debris in Ajman, and AM Tarek, who was killed by shrapnel in Bahrain, emphasize the vulnerability of these workers. HRW's full insights can be further explored through reports like TBS News, which highlight ongoing fatalities associated with regional tensions.
By the numbers:
- 80-90% — Migrant workers' share of workforce in some Gulf countries.
- 38 — Number of worker interviews conducted by HRW revealing economic and security issues.