What help is there available to migrant workers in the Gulf if they run into trouble?
The main source of help for migrant workers is their nearest embassy or consulate, since the governments of their host country in the Gulf typically avoid taking responsibility for their welfare. A number of embassies offer shelter to workers who are fleeing abusive employers, and can help with their repatriation. However, many migrant workers do not have diplomatic representation in their host country, and have no-one to turn to for help in emergencies (for example, Nepal does not maintain embassies in Kuwait or Bahrain). Some countries in the Gulf declare ‘amnesties’ every couple of years, when they offer to repatriate any workers that have become ‘stranded’ without their papers, homeless or illegally employed. There are a number of NGOs which offer help to migrant workers in distress in the Gulf. One of these is the Migrant Workers Protection Society in Bahrain, which provides temporary shelter for workers and helps them to access diplomatic and legal help. However, governments in t
