Qatar: No country for migrant men
October 6, 2015
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
Oil companies leave migrants stranded in Oman without pay
October 5, 2015
The drop in oil prices has left migrants in limbo. Oil companies that have lost projects have defaulted on migrants' salaries or entirely abandoned them.
Another Look at Kuwait's New Laws for Domestic Workers
September 9, 2015
MRRORS.org reviewed the latest draft copy of Kuwait’s domestic labor law in June. Kuwait’s new domestic labor law, over two years and several drafts in the making, has been welcomed with moderated praise from much of the public. Though it is one the Gulf’s first laws specific to domestic workers, how much can the conditions of these workers really be expected to improve?
TIP report sheds some light on why majority of Indian complaints come from the GCC
August 25, 2015
Construction workers in the UAE (Image credit: Flickr)
'Modiplomacy' slights India's blue-collar migrant workers
August 24, 2015
[Image Credit: Murphygb via Flickr]
[Stories of Origin] Commodification of women in rural Indonesia
August 6, 2015
Stories of Origin is a new MR series of articles and interviews that explores the lived experiences of both returning and potential migrants and their families. In this two-part story we visit Indonesia and speak with female migrant workers.
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.