MRRORS

The Ministry of Labor opened the country’s first shelter in response to the growing number of runaway workers. Authorities claim “it is one of the best specialized centers in the Middle East” but it’s not quite clear what this specialization entails. The shelter boasts 700 beds, but its privately contracted staff is untrained and has no experience dealing with survivors of abuse. MRRORS.org spoke to one woman who claims that the staff not only failed to provide basic support services, but physically and sexually harassed the shelter’s vulnerable residents.

Construction workers in Kuwait are building its future in hazardous and exploitative work sites.

Dr Adam Hanieh, senior lecturer in development studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, spoke to MRRORS.org about the newly-released book Transit States: Labour, Migration and Citizenship in the Gulf, of which he is one of the editors.

The narrative on migration – globally, but more so in the Arab world – is polarised, and this is reflected in the way local media covers news on migrants and migration.

The women escaped mistreatment and confinement by an employer with a record of abuse. They narrated their experiences to MRRORS.org, requesting anonymity.

The WPS in isolation will do little to improve conditions of low-income migrant workers in the country. Qatar's failure to reform the oppressive sponsorship system shows reluctance to delve deeper into its labor market problems.