Legal, Policy & Governance

A Review of Kuwait’s Latest Draft Law for Domestic Workers

The 452 workers who lost every last scrap of their belongings in a fire in Qatar on Friday morning still have their passports in tact. Because the passports have been in the possession of their employer since they started work, MRRORS.org learned while speaking to the victims.

Some proposals akin to forced labor

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.

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

Understanding of what human trafficking means will help you determine if you are a party to the exploitation. These questions will help you become aware of your role in the trafficking chain.

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.