Latest In Brief
Latest updates
Our op-ed in Al Jazeera - Opens in new tab
In our op-ed for Al Jazeera, we urge Gulf countries to better protect migrant workers in their Covid-19 response.
Gulf countries ease restrictions despite high COVID-19 cases
Gulf countries are moving to ease restrictions put in place to contain COVID-19 virus despite high infection rates.
Vani Saraswathi speaks with IHRB on domestic workers - Opens in new tab
Associate Editor and Director of Projects Vani Saraswathi discusses the condition of foreign domestic workers amid the Covid19 crisis with the Institute of Human Rights and Business (podcast).
UAE announces a full waiver on all visa fines for 3 months
According to a new order in the UAE, all residents with entry or residency permits that expired before 1 March 2020, will be exempted from paying fines if they leave the country after 18 May 2020. The order is valid for a period of three months.
Saudi Arabia begins the 15th phase of WPS
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that it has started implementing the 15th phase of the Wage Protection System (WPS). As of 1 May 2020, companies with 11 or more workers are now obligated to register with WPS.
Saudi Arabia allows businesses to reduce workers wages without consent
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has enacted a new regulation on 3 May which allows employers to unilaterally cut workers hours and wages during the next six months.
Kuwait’s one-month amnesty came to an end - Opens in new tab
Kuwait’s one-month amnesty came to an end on 30 April and was availed by about 30,000 irregular workers. However, many migrants are still stranded in government facilities due to travel restrictions placed by origin countries.
Majority of Bahraini MPs vote for the deportation of irregular migrants
Bahraini Parliament vote for the deportation of irregular migrant workers.
Food woes for quarantined migrants in Bahrain
In Bahrain, low-income migrant workers who are forcefully quarantined in cramped labour accommodations are left reliant on civil society organisations for food and basic necessities.
Bahrain extends the validity of visit visas for expatriates automatically and free of charge for three months. - Opens in new tab
Bahrain extends the validity of visit visas for expatriates automatically and free of charge for three months.
Kuwait's lockdown affecting all migrants - Opens in new tab
Several areas in Kuwait are under lockdown, leaving many migrants without access to food. Government SMS messages that are sent several times a day tell people about places where they can pick up goods, but seem to lead nowhere.
Qatar arrests migrants 'helping' workers escape employers - Opens in new tab
In light of the arrest of 7 individuals accused of helping domestic workers escape their employers, Qatari officials should look into why workers seek to leave their employer’s households, including the conditions that push them to take such risky decisions.
COVID-19 cases rising among migrants in Bahrain
Bahrain's Ministry of Labour has issued a circular for employers and workers in the private sector regarding combating the spread of COVID-19 at workplaces and labour camps in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases among migrants.
Bahrain to relocate migrants in high density areas - Opens in new tab
Bahrain announced plans to relocate migrants in high-density areas to public facilities, such as schools and youth centres, to achieve social distancing.
Domestic workers leave Kuwaiti homes due to overwork - Opens in new tab
Many domestic workers in Kuwait are leaving their employer's homes due to unbearable workloads. The government shelter is reportedly refusing to receive them because they have not been reported as "absconding" (a runaway).
Bahrain announces amnesty for irregular migrants and cuts in Flexi-Permit fees
Bahrain announces amnesty for irregular migrants from now through December 31, 2020 and cuts in Flexi-Permit fees.