Latest In Brief
Latest updates
Bahrain has proposed a new law aimed at regulating the recruitment of domestic workers
Bahrain has proposed a new law aimed at regulating the recruitment of domestic workers, including a ceiling on recruitment fees and workers’ salaries.
Oman reduces the minimum salary required for family visas
According to media reports, Oman has reduced the minimum salary required for family visas OMR150. The ROP has yet to issue an official statement.
Sex trafficking in UAE and Oman under spotlight
A recent Reuters report draws attention to human trafficking for sex work in the UAE, while cases of sex trafficking are also on the rise in Oman.
Thousands of migrants detained and deported across GCC, with no regards to their rights
Another wave of detention and deportation campaigns have taken place across the GCC in recent months, particularly in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Weekly, officials report hundreds of migrant workers detained in searches and raids.
Kuwait attempts to arm-twist the Philippines by imposing a total entry ban
Kuwait has banned the entry of all Filipino nationals, except those with valid residence permits. The ban includes those who possess new work visas. A Philippines official says the move is a retaliatory measure aimed at forcing the sending country’s hand.
Kuwait requires non-nationals to renew their driver's licenses annually - Opens in new tab
Kuwait now requires non-nationals to renew their driving licences annually. Previously, licences were valid for a period of three years.
Bahrain to support "Labour Registration Program" workers filing civil lawsuits online
Bahrain's Labour Market Regulatory Authority has recently announced that its Protection and Grievances Centre will now provide administrative support in filing civil lawsuits for migrants registered with the new “Labour Registration Programme”.
Saudi Arabia resumes recruitment of domestic workers from Ethiopia
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently announced that it has resumed the official recruitment of domestic workers from Ethiopia after a hiatus of more than three years.
Saudi Arabia introduces new domestic work categories in its Musaned platform
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) recently added the recruitment of 13 distinct domestic work categories to its Musaned platform, including female driver, private tutor, housekeeper, personal care worker, and house manager. Previously, such workers would have been recruited under the general category of ‘domestic worker.’
Saudi Arabia caps the cost of recruiting domestic workers of certain nationalities
Saudi Arabia has introduced a number of initiatives to regulate the cost of recruiting a domestic worker, including nationality-based recruitment caps and a monthly instalment plan for recruiting workers from Indonesia.
Saudi Arabia doubles exit and return visa fees for migrants
Saudi Arabia doubled the renewal fees for “exit and re-entry visas” for residents who are outside the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia remains the only Gulf state that effectively charges migrants fees for exiting and returning to the Kingdom.
Kuwait launches new electronic service for domestic labour disputes
Kuwait’s Public Authority of Manpower launched a new electronic service for labour disputes involving domestic workers. The new e-service will allow both domestic workers and employers to submit complaints.
Gulf states ramp up arrest and deportation campaigns
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait have intensified efforts to identify and deport migrants with irregular status in recent months. Over 70,000 migrants were detained between November and December by Saudi alone.
Kuwait imposes fees on medicines for migrants
Non-Kuwaiti residents are now required to pay additional fees when purchasing medicine, on top of the healthcare and insurance fees they already pay. The move is the latest in a series of discriminatory public health policies.
Rejection of job change requests on the rise in Qatar
The number of requests for job changes and rejections are on the rise in Qatar. Moreover, the rejections of new recruitment requests have also increased drastically in the last several months, likely in an effort to reduce the number of migrant workers in the country ahead of the World Cup.
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia sign bilateral agreement on domestic workers
Following several official deployment bans over the years, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia signed a bilateral agreement on 11 August 2022 that aims to increase the number of Indonesian domestic workers in the Kingdom.