A middle-aged Indian migrant, “SG,” arrived in Kuwait to work for a shipping company in 2004. In India, SG had signed a contract to work as manager of the company’s research and development department. But once in Kuwait, he discovered he was expected to run the entire company on his own. He often substituted for accountants and other overwhelmed employees. He described himself as a joker of sorts, shuttled between every department to complete unfinished tasks.
Like many migrant workers, SG’s options were limited. He needed the money for his family, and he could not file a complaint against his employer without threatening his opportunity to work in Kuwait. The associated expenses, the difficulty in locating a lawyer, and the likelihood that any outcome would ultimately result in his return to India were all reasons SG swallowed exploitation for nearly 7 years
Over these years, the company grew into a successful, middle-sized firm. But despite SG’s crucial contributions, his salary never rose and he was never compensated for working overtime.
Still, SG’s conflict with his employer was not sparked by a demand for fair compensation but merely a request to for time off to visit his family. SG had not seen his family for seven years, since his first arrival to Kuwait. Migrants cannot bring family members with them unless they meet a minimum required salary - at least K.D 400 ($1300 USD) monthly according to Kuwaiti residency law.
Under Kuwaiti labor law, migrant workers, like other workers, are entitled to vacation time. But many migrants are forced to bargain with their sponsors for these basic labor rights, often with unfavorable results.
SG’s employer told SG the workload was too big and that no one could substitute for him. SG repeated his request for six months, denied with similar excuses each time. At one point, the employer told SG that his passport – confiscated upon arrival in Kuwait - had been lost, and that he should try to get a new one from the Indian embassy.
