Worker on Qatar Rail project leaves country after months of distress
November 13, 2016
An abusive sub-contractor gets way with impunity on Qatar's most important infrastructure project.
Labour Rights
Examining how people on the move interact with systems impacting their safety, freedoms, and opportunities. In the GCC, where migrant workers underpin much of the economy, this topic highlights lived experiences behind policies, power imbalances in recruitment and labor, protections and gaps affecting daily life, and efforts to secure dignity and fundamental rights for all.
Country-specific labour and domestic workers rights
Latest articles
India places curbs on recruitment of female migrants
October 9, 2016
Thousands still stranded in Saudi; apathy prevails
September 27, 2016
[STORIES OF ORIGIN] Stripped of Humanity: A Migrant’s Tale
September 23, 2016
Bal Krishna Gautam endured two years of humiliation and avoidable illness in Qatar, with no access to a bathroom and spoilt food for lunch. His agonizing tale is an indictment of Gulf labour practices.
[Stories of Origin] Same story, different countries
September 11, 2016
The all-pervasive kafala, or sponsorship system, allows Gulf citizens and employers to exercise complete and absolute power over migrant workers. Moving from Saudi to Qatar to Kuwait, Mobeen Ahmed’s story is but one amongst a few million migrant experiences across the GCC region.
Abused and broken, Ugandan 'housemaid' recounts horrors of working in Oman
September 8, 2016
A Ugandan maid shares her story of survival in Oman.
Latest In Brief
April 19, 2026
Bahrain shortens summer midday work ban period
Bahrain’s cabinet has recently revised the summer midday work ban for employees working outdoors under the sun, reducing it from three months to two and a half months.
February 15, 2026
UAE Ratifies the ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention
The UAE has recently ratified the ILO’s 2014 Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention. While this is a step in the right direction, unless the Kafala system is dismantled, eradication of forced labour would not be possible.
February 14, 2025
Bangladesh intensifies efforts for more labour recruitment to Saudi
Bangladesh is pushing hard to send more migrant workers to Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom prepares for various mega projects, including the FIFA World Cup 2034. Saudi hosts the largest number of overseas Bangladeshis – three million – who constitute the single largest expatriate nationality in the country. Bangladesh continues to accept many of the Kingdom's conditions without critique, despite the financial burden it places on its citizens. Nevertheless, other labour sending countries are likely to deploy similar strategies to get a share of the opportunities that Saudi is likely to offer over the next decade.
August 21, 2024
UAE Amends Specific Labour Law Provisions Concerning Dispute Resolution
The UAE has recently amended its labour dispute procedures, increasing fines for some employment violations and allowing partial payments to avoid legal action. The amendments also transfer jurisdiction for certain violations involving domestic workers.
August 20, 2024
Oman Eases Penalties on Businesses for Labour Law Violations
Oman’s Ministry of Labour recently issued two resolutions enabling employers to pay reduced fines to avoid legal action, and authorising regulators to prohibit employers from issuing or renewing work permits for migrant workers.